Ecosystems and Biodiversity Practice Tests

These Grade 9 Biology practice tests explore how biodiversity supports ecosystem structure, function, and resilience. Questions cover genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity; keystone species; ecosystem services; habitat loss; invasive species; pollution; climate change; restoration; and conservation.

Skills covered

  • Distinguishing genetic, species, and ecosystem biodiversity and explaining resilience and resistance
  • Analyzing keystone species, indicator species, trophic cascades, decomposers, and ecosystem services
  • Evaluating habitat loss, fragmentation, edge effects, invasive species, eutrophication, plastic pollution, and climate change
  • Connecting ecological footprints, sustainability, protected areas, corridors, restoration, and native species
  • Interpreting population, food-web, biodiversity, and ecosystem-health evidence for conservation decisions

How to use these practice tests

First identify the ecological level or biodiversity type. Then trace the direct and indirect effects of a disturbance and consider which evidence would support a conservation decision. Review the explanations to strengthen environmental science vocabulary and systems thinking.

For more Grade 9 Science practice, return to the Grade 9 Science category.

1. Test

Grade 9 Ecosystems and Biodiversity Practice Tests

Practice Grade 9 Science questions about biodiversity, ecosystem structure, keystone species, ecosystem services, habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and conservation.

Choose the best answer. Identify the level of biodiversity or ecosystem process involved, trace direct and indirect effects, and evaluate conservation choices.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

What is biodiversity?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The variety of life in an area, including genes, species, and ecosystems..

  1. Identify the ecosystem concept: Determine whether the question focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem structure, environmental change, or conservation.
  2. Apply the ecological principle: Biodiversity includes genetic diversity within species, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is The variety of life in an area, including genes, species, and ecosystems..

Biodiversity includes genetic diversity within species, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

What is genetic diversity?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is The variety of alleles and traits within a species or population..

  1. Identify the ecosystem concept: Determine whether the question focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem structure, environmental change, or conservation.
  2. Apply the ecological principle: Genetic diversity gives a population different inherited traits that may support adaptation and resilience.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is The variety of alleles and traits within a species or population..

Genetic diversity gives a population different inherited traits that may support adaptation and resilience.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

What is species diversity?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is The number and relative abundance of different species in a community..

  1. Identify the ecosystem concept: Determine whether the question focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem structure, environmental change, or conservation.
  2. Apply the ecological principle: Species diversity considers both how many species are present and how evenly individuals are distributed among them.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is The number and relative abundance of different species in a community..

Species diversity considers both how many species are present and how evenly individuals are distributed among them.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

What is ecosystem diversity?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is The variety of ecosystems and habitats in a region..

  1. Identify the ecosystem concept: Determine whether the question focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem structure, environmental change, or conservation.
  2. Apply the ecological principle: Ecosystem diversity describes variation among habitats, communities, and ecological processes across a landscape.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is The variety of ecosystems and habitats in a region..

Ecosystem diversity describes variation among habitats, communities, and ecological processes across a landscape.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

What is a keystone species?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A species with an unusually large effect on ecosystem structure compared with its abundance..

  1. Identify the ecosystem concept: Determine whether the question focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem structure, environmental change, or conservation.
  2. Apply the ecological principle: Removing a keystone species can cause major changes because many ecological relationships depend on it.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is A species with an unusually large effect on ecosystem structure compared with its abundance..

Removing a keystone species can cause major changes because many ecological relationships depend on it.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

What is an indicator species?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is A species whose presence, absence, or condition provides information about environmental conditions..

  1. Identify the ecosystem concept: Determine whether the question focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem structure, environmental change, or conservation.
  2. Apply the ecological principle: Indicator species can be sensitive to specific conditions and help scientists monitor ecosystem health.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is A species whose presence, absence, or condition provides information about environmental conditions..

Indicator species can be sensitive to specific conditions and help scientists monitor ecosystem health.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

What is ecosystem resilience?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is The ability of an ecosystem to recover after disturbance..

  1. Identify the ecosystem concept: Determine whether the question focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem structure, environmental change, or conservation.
  2. Apply the ecological principle: A resilient ecosystem can absorb or recover from disturbances while maintaining important functions.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is The ability of an ecosystem to recover after disturbance..

A resilient ecosystem can absorb or recover from disturbances while maintaining important functions.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

What is ecosystem resistance?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is The ability of an ecosystem to remain relatively unchanged when disturbed..

  1. Identify the ecosystem concept: Determine whether the question focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem structure, environmental change, or conservation.
  2. Apply the ecological principle: Resistance describes how well an ecosystem withstands disturbance without major changes.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is The ability of an ecosystem to remain relatively unchanged when disturbed..

Resistance describes how well an ecosystem withstands disturbance without major changes.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Why can high biodiversity support ecosystem stability?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Different species may perform overlapping roles and respond differently to change..

  1. Identify the ecosystem concept: Determine whether the question focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem structure, environmental change, or conservation.
  2. Apply the ecological principle: Functional diversity can help an ecosystem continue operating when one species declines or conditions change.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is Different species may perform overlapping roles and respond differently to change..

Functional diversity can help an ecosystem continue operating when one species declines or conditions change.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

What is a biodiversity hotspot?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is A region with many unique species that faces significant habitat loss or threat..

  1. Identify the ecosystem concept: Determine whether the question focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem structure, environmental change, or conservation.
  2. Apply the ecological principle: Hotspots combine high levels of endemism with substantial threats, making conservation especially important.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is A region with many unique species that faces significant habitat loss or threat..

Hotspots combine high levels of endemism with substantial threats, making conservation especially important.

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