Question

read the passage. then answer the question below.
tide pools on the oregon coast can experience large waves and strong currents. many tide pool organisms attach securely to the surrounding rocks to avoid being swept away.
ochre sea stars make a sticky substance to help them hold onto the rocks. pacific blue mussels glue themselves to the rocks using structures called byssal threads. a black leather chiton sticks to a rock by creating suction with its strong muscular foot. black oystercatcher birds eat mussels and chitons. these birds are strong enough to pry animals off of the rocks.
in a tide pool on the oregon coast, the pacific blue mussels, the text cut off and the black oystercatchers make up which of the following? select all that apply.
a population
part of a community
part of an ecosystem

Explanation:

1. Population: A population is a group of individuals of the same species in a given area. Here, we have multiple species (mussels, chitons, birds), so not a population.
2. Part of a community: A community consists of all the different populations (species) interacting in a particular area. The mussels, chitons, and birds are different species interacting (e.g., birds eat mussels/chitons), so they are part of the community.
3. Part of an ecosystem: An ecosystem includes all living (biotic) components (like the community) and non - living (abiotic) components (like rocks, water, waves in the tide pool). Since these organisms are biotic components within the tide pool ecosystem, they are part of the ecosystem.

Answer:

• part of a community
• part of an ecosystem