Adaptations & Survival
Explain why camouflage is useful for BOTH predators and prey.
Predators use camouflage to sneak up on prey, while prey use it to avoid being seen by predators.
Two species eat the same food but hunt at different times of day. Why does this reduce competition?
They are not using the resource at the same time.
Explain the difference between a predator and prey.
A predator hunts and eats another organism, while prey is hunted and eaten.
In commensalism, which organism benefits?
One organism benefits while the other is unaffected.
What is extinction?
The disappearance of all members of a species from Earth.
Why would a giraffe’s long neck help reduce competition with other herbivores?
It allows giraffes to reach food higher in trees that other herbivores cannot reach.
Explain the difference between a habitat and a niche.
A habitat is where an organism lives, while a niche is the organism’s role or job in the ecosystem.
Why might camouflage be especially important for prey species?
It helps them avoid being detected and eaten.
Explain why oxpecker birds and zebras are an example of mutualism.
The birds get food by eating bugs, and the zebras benefit by having pests removed.
Explain why limited food, water, and shelter create competition in ecosystems.
Organisms must compete because resources are not unlimited.
A shark is dark on top and light underneath. Explain how this adaptation helps it survive from two different viewing angles.
From above it blends into the dark ocean depths, and from below it blends into the bright surface water.
Shorebirds living in the same habitat feed in different locations. Why is this important for survival?
It reduces competition for limited food resources.
A predator population suddenly increases. Predict what will MOST likely happen to the prey population first.
The prey population will decrease.
A remora fish eats scraps from a manta ray without helping or harming it. Why is this NOT mutualism?
Only the remora benefits while the manta ray is unaffected.
A prey species develops faster running speed over many generations. Explain how this could affect predators.
Predators may struggle to catch prey and may need adaptations of their own to survive.
A species suddenly loses the habitat it depends on. Explain what could happen if it cannot adapt quickly enough.
The population may decline and could eventually become extinct.
A drought removes much of the water in an ecosystem. Is this a biotic or abiotic factor, and how could it affect niches?
Abiotic; organisms may no longer be able to survive in their niches due to lack of water.
Explain why predator populations often decrease after prey populations become too small.
There is less food available for predators to survive.
Scientists sometimes disagree about whether clownfish and sea anemones are mutualistic or commensal. Why?
Some scientists think the anemone benefits, while others think it is unaffected.
A disease kills many insects in an ecosystem. Predict TWO possible effects on other organisms in the food web.
Insect-eating animals may decrease, while plants insects fed on may increase.
A scientist discovers an animal with webbed feet, waterproof fur, and eyes on top of its head. Infer what type of environment it probably lives in and explain your reasoning.
Likely aquatic or semi-aquatic because the traits help with swimming, staying dry, and seeing above water while submerged.
Two bird species compete for insects in a forest. One of the bird species populations is increases while the other declines. Explain the MOST likely ecological reason for this change.
One species is more successful at obtaining limited resources, causing the other population to decrease from competition.
On Isle Royale, wolf populations decreased and moose populations increased. Explain how this demonstrates the relationship between predator and prey populations.
Fewer predators allowed more prey to survive, showing predator populations help control prey populations.
What is the main difference between parasitism and a predator-prey interaction?
A parasite kills its host slowly while a predator immediately kills its prey for food and nutrients.
A scientist introduces a new predator into an ecosystem with no natural defenses against it. Predict and explain TWO major ecosystem impacts that could occur.
Prey populations may rapidly decline, and the food web could become unbalanced, affecting many other species.