Relationships in Ecosystems

Question 1

What is symbiosis?

Answer 1

A relationship between two or more organisms that is beneficial to at least one of the organisms.

Question 1

What three types of relationships does symbiosis consist of?

Answer 1

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism

Question 2

What is mutualism?

Answer 2

A mutualistic relationships is where both organisms benefit from one another. Sometimes the relationship is a loose one other times the organisms rely on one another for survival

Question 3

What is commensalism?

Answer 3

A relationship where one organism benefits while the other is not impacted at all.

Question 4

What is parasitism?

Answer 4

A relationship where one organism benefits off another. The parasite is benefitted, the host is negatively impacted.
Parasites tend to want to keep their host alive to continue to benefit from them.
- Ectoparasites - external
- Endoparasites - internal
- Macroscopic - can be seen with the naked eye
- Host specific - can only occupy certain organism

Question 5

Give an example of a mutualistic relationship.

Answer 5

Ox-peckers ride on the back of elephants/rhinos feeding on the bugs (benefiting the ox-peckers) while elephants are also getting cleaned by the ox-peckers (benefiting the elephants).

Question 6

Give an example of a commensalism relationship.

Answer 6

Birds build nests in trees, birds are benefitted as the tree provides cover and protection and the tree is unharmed by the nest and birds.

Question 7

Give an example of a parasitic relationship.

Answer 7

Tics feed on the blood of chickens, negatively impacting the chicken and benefiting the tic.

Question 8

What is the relationship of decomposers?

Answer 8

• Decomposers break down organic material and return it to the environment.
• Fungi and bacteria don’t consume the material in order to break it down.

Question 9

What is the relationship of scavengers?

Answer 9

Scavengers do not hunt and kill their prey, rather they eat leftovers left by
predators.

Question 10

What is the relationship of detritivores?

Answer 10

Detritivores are organisms that consume organic matter and break it down.

Question 11

What is competition?

Answer 11

• Competition occurs when individuals compete for a resource that limits their survival and reproduction.
• Competition only occurs for resources that are limiting. For example: food, space, water, mates, light etc.

Question 12

What are the two types of competition relationships?

Answer 12

• Interspecific
• Intraspecific

Question 13

What is intraspecific competition?

Answer 13

Intraspecific competition is a competitive relationship between organisms in the same species. Both organisms are negatively impacted.

Question 14

What is interspecific competition?

Answer 14

Interspecific competition is a competitive relationship between organisms in different species. Both organisms are negatively impacted.

Question 15

Give an example of intraspecific competition.

Answer 15

A rooster will fight another rooster for the ability to mate with a hen. Both roosters will be negatively impacted as they lose energy.

Question 16

Give an example of interspecific competition.

Answer 16

Lions and cheetahs compete for the same food. both organisms will be negatively impacted as they lose energy.

Question 17

What is a disease relationships?

Answer 17

A relationship where a pathogen benefits while negatively benefiting an organism. Caused by a pathogen.
- Microscopic - smaller than 10 microns
- Not host specific - can effect a range of hosts
- Disease can cause a decrease in genetic biodiversity.

Question 18

Give an example of a disease relationship.

Answer 18

Koala’s can get the disease chlamydia which can cause reproductive issues affecting their ability to produce offspring.

Question 19

What is collaboration?

Answer 19

A relationship where organisms of the same species work together to benefit all members of the group.

Question 20

Give an example of a collaborative relationship.

Answer 20

Orcas will work as a group to kill seals for food, they will all benefit as they will get food.

Question 21

What is a predator/prey relationship?

Answer 21

• A relationship where one organism (predator) kills and eats another organism (prey).
• This includes animals preying on plants and plants preying on animals.
• Usually one predator has multiple different prey.
• Predator/prey relationships effect the size of both populations over time.

Question 22

Give an example of a predator/prey relationship.

Answer 22

A lion will catch a gazelle and kill it, negatively impacting the gazelle and eat it for food, benefiting the lion.

Question 23

Give an example of a disease.

Answer 23

The flu in humans.

Question 24

Give an example of a scavenger.

Answer 24

Racoons

Question 25

Give an example of a detritivore.

Answer 25

Millipede

Question 26

Give an example of a decomposer.

Answer 26

Bacteria/fungi