Vocabulary
Who/What is a "consumer"?
Animals are consumers, they cannot make their own food. They get their energy by eating other living things.
What does a "parasite" do?
Parasites are usually smaller than the host species, but not always, and can live either inside the body of their host or externally.
True or False: A food chain describes one path of feeding relationships and energy flow between species in an ecosystem.
True
True or False: A food chain is a group of interconnected food chains.
False. A food web is a group of interconnected food chains.
Define symbiosis.
Symbiosis is an interaction between individuals of different biological species.
The Sun is the most important energy source for life on Earth. The Sun produces heat and light. Everyday the Sun's energy reaches Earth as sunlight.
What is the role of a "host" organism?
The organism that is harmed by the relationship is the host.
What kind of organism is at the start of every food chain?
A producer
Can organisms in a food web belong to more than one level in that same food web?
Yes, organisms in a food web can belong to multiple levels in that web depending on what they eat.
True or False: A symbiotic interaction involves a close relationship between the two organisms involved.
True
What is a producer? How do they get their energy supply?
Producers are living things that make their own food. Plants use the Sun's energy to make their own food using a process called photosynthesis.
What is the role of a "predator"?
The organism that hunts another organism for food is called the predator.
What do the arrows in the food chain show?
The arrows show the direction of energy flow from oe organism to the next (energy is absorbed when food is eaten).
Describe what role of the primary consumer in a food chain. (What do they eat? Why?)
A primary consumer is the first level consumer in a food web, they eat producers.
Define a mutualistic relationship.
Both organisms benefit in a mutualistic relationship.
Describe what a decomposer eats. Give an example of a decomposer.
Decomposers are consumers that get energy from feeding on wastes, dead plants, and dead animals.
Ex. fungi, bacteria, insects
Fill in each of the blanks in the following statement: An example of _____________ is a bird catching, killing, and eating a frog. In this example, the bird is the __________ and the frog is the ______.
An example of predation is a bird catching, killing, and eating a frog. In this example, the bird is the predator and the frog is the prey.
What organism is at the end of every food chain? What is their role?
Decomposers are at the end of every food chain, they break down dead plant and animal matter.
Describe what role of the secondary consumer in a food chain. (What do they eat? Why?)
The secondary consumer eats the primary consumers in a food web, making them the third level.
Define a communalistic relationship. Give an example of what this may do for each organism involved.
One organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed in a communalistic relationship.
Often, the benefit that the organism receives is the ability to find food more easily or protection from other organisms.
Explain what an omnivore is. Describe why they are important and give an example of an omnivore.
An organism that commonly eats both plants and animals is called an omnivore. They have a diverse diet, helping to keep ecosystems balanced. Omnivores often have many different ways of getting and eating food.
Explain what a predation relationship is and what the role of the "prey" is in the relationship.
Predation takes place when an organism captures and consumes another organism as a food source. The organism that is consumed is called the prey.
Explain or give an example of a food chain with at least 4 organisms.
Sample Ex: grass > zebra > lion > bacteria
Explain the role of the tertiary consumers in a food web. Are they at the top of the food chain?
Tertiary consumers are the fourth level because they eat secondary consumers. Other levels in the food chain are ranked in the same way until the top carnivore is reached.
Define parasitism. Give an example of what this type or relationship might look like.
One organism benefits and the other is harmed in a parasitic relationship.
Ex. Fleas and mosquitoes which feed on the blood of their hosts.