Sample Item In a marine ecosystem phytoplankton, zooplankton, small fish, and shark make up a food chain, in which the shark eats the fish, the fish eats the zooplankton, and the zooplankton eats the phytoplankton. If disease reduced the population of small fish, how would this affect the flow of energy in the system? A) The flow of energy would decrease between the phytoplankton and the sun. B) The flow of energy would increase between the phytoplankton and the small fish. *C) The flow of energy will decrease between the small fish and the shark. D) The flow of energy will increase between the phytoplankton and the shark. Reporting Organisms/Populations/Ecosystems Category Standard Interdependence Benchmark SC.912.L.17.10 Number Benchmark Diagram and explain the biogeochemical cycles of an ecosystem, including water, carbon, and nitrogen cycle. Also Assesses SC.912.E. 7.1 Item Types Multiple Choice Benchmark Students will analyze the movement of matter through biogeochemical Clarification cycles. Content Limits Items assessing biogeochemical cycles are limited to the water cycle or carbon cycle. Items will be limited to the role of the marine ecosystem in the biogeochemical cycle. Stimulus Illustrations or diagrams may be used. Attributes
Sample Item In a marine ecosystem phytoplankton, zooplankton, small fish, and shark make up a food chain, in which the shark eats the fish, the fish eats the zooplankton, and the zooplankton eats the phytoplankton. If disease reduced the population of small fish, how would this affect the flow of energy in the system? A) The flow of energy would decrease between the phytoplankton and the sun. B) The flow of energy would increase between the phytoplankton and the small fish. *C) The flow of energy will decrease between the small fish and the shark. D) The flow of energy will increase between the phytoplankton and the shark. Reporting Category Organisms/Populations/Ecosystems Standard Interdependence Benchmark Number SC.912.L.17.10 Benchmark Diagram and explain the biogeochemical cycles of an ecosystem, including water, carbon, and nitrogen cycle. Also Assesses SC.912.E. 7.1 Item Types Multiple Choice Benchmark Clarification Students will analyze the movement of matter through biogeochemical cycles. Content Limits Items assessing biogeochemical cycles are limited to the water cycle or carbon cycle. Items will be limited to the role of the marine ecosystem in the biogeochemical cycle. Stimulus Attributes Illustrations or diagrams may be used.