Relationships in Ecosystems

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

The study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.

Question 2

Niche

Answer 2

The role and position a species occupies in its environment; this includes how it meets its needs for food and shelter, how it survives and how it reproduces. Each species has its own unique niche.

Question 3

Symbiosis

Answer 3

A close relationship between members of different species, where each depends upon the other for survival.

Question 4

Mutualism

Answer 4

Both species in the relationship benefit from the relationship.

Question 5

Commensalism

Answer 5

One species benefits and the other is unaffected.

Question 6

Parasitism

Answer 6

One species benefits and the other is harmed. Parasites live on or in a host organism.

Question 7

Amensalism

Answer 7

One organism is inhibited or destroyed and the other is unaffected.

Question 8

Competition

Answer 8

Refers to a relationship between members of the same or different species of individuals who are adversely affected by the presence of those having the same living environment.

Question 9

Intraspecies Competition

Answer 9

Between members of the same species.

Question 10

Interspecies Competition

Answer 10

Between members of different species.

Question 11

Producer

Answer 11

Manufactures their own food by process of photosynthesis. Plants

Question 12

Consumer

Answer 12

East producers or heterotrophs. Any animal.

Question 13

Scavenger

Answer 13

Eats dead animals. Hyena.

Question 14

De-composer

Answer 14

Breakdown organic material. Fungi.

Question 15

Primary Consumer

Answer 15

Eats producers. Kangaroos.

Question 16

Secondary Consumer

Answer 16

Animals that consume primary producers.

Question 17

Detritivore

Answer 17

Obtains nutrients by consuming decomposing plants and animals parts and well as faeces. Worms.

Question 18

Parasite

Answer 18

They live in another organism and are detrimental to their host. Ticks

Question 19

Autotroph

Answer 19

Able to undergo photosynthesis.

Question 20

Heterotroph

Answer 20

Obtains energy by consuming other organisms.

Question 21

Food Chain

Answer 21

Show a single energy flow pathway beginning with a producer and ending up with an apex predator.

Question 22

Food Webs

Answer 22

Considered to be a better representation of a community.

Question 23

Keystone Species

Answer 23

A plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in a way an ecosystem functions.

Question 24

Geographic Distribution

Answer 24

Refers to the extent of the area where that species can be found. A species geographic distribution is also known as its range.

Question 25

Calculation of Change in Population Size

Answer 25

Change in Pop = (Births + Immigration) - (Death + emigration)

Question 26

Boundary

Answer 26

The biological barrier between organisms that deters the natural exchange of genetic material.

Question 27

Pioneer species

Answer 27

Are the first species to enter an area after a disturbance. They are the colonizers.

Question 28

Carrying Capacity

Answer 28

The maximum population of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water and other necessities available in the environment.

Question 29

Distribution

Answer 29

The spacial relationship between members of a population within a habitat.

Question 30

Energy Chain

Answer 30

The amount of energy that moves through a food chain. The transfers of chemical energy in an ecosystem may be shown in various ways, such as food webs and food chains.

Question 31

Trophic Level

Answer 31

A position that an organism occupies is called it’s trophic level. In a food chain an organism can only occupy one trophic level. But may occupy two or more trophic levels in a food web.

Question 32

Phytoplankton

Answer 32

The collective term for the tiny photosynthetic organism present in the bodies of water.

Question 33

Zooplakton

Answer 33

A collective term for the tiny heterotrophic organism present in the bodies of water.

Question 34

Biotic factor

Answer 34

A factor related to the effect a living organism has on another living organisms.