Mutualism
What type of relationship benefits both organisms involved?
mutualism
What do we call an organism that hunts and eats other organisms?
predator
What is a relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another?
parasitism
What do we call an organism that is eaten by a predator?
prey
What is a close relationship between two different species called?
symbiosis
Provide an example of mutualism in an ecosystem
example- both species need to benefit
Name a common predator in a forest ecosystem.
Give an example of a parasite and its host.
dog and tick
Name a common prey animal in a grassland ecosystem.
rabbit
Describe the three main types of symbiotic relationships.
How does mutualism enhance the survival of the organisms involved?
creates beneficial partnerships where organisms exchange essential resources like food, shelter, or protection from predators, allowing them to thrive in environments or conditions they couldn't on their own
How does predation affect prey populations?
How do parasites affect the health of their hosts?
they may reduce the survival, growth and reproduction of the host and reduce the population density, They may render the host more vulnerable to predation by making it physically weak.
How do prey animals protect themselves from predators?
How does symbiosis contribute to ecological stability?
What is a mutualistic relationship between bees and flowers?
The bee gets food (nectar and pollen) from the flower. In return, as the bee visits different flowers, it carries pollen from one flower to another, which helps the flower reproduce by allowing it to make seeds and fruit.
What adaptations do predators have to help them catch prey?
Predators have special physical traits and senses that help them catch prey, such as sharp teeth and claws for grabbing, speed and strength for chasing, camouflaged fur or skin for hiding, and keen eyesight or smell to locate prey from afar
What strategies do parasites use to survive in their hosts?
What role does camouflage play in the survival of prey?
Camouflage helps prey survive by allowing them to blend into their surroundings, making them harder for predators to see, detect, and recognize, thus reducing the chances of being eaten.
Give an example of a mutualistic relationship in a coral reef.
The clownfish is safe from predators because the anemone's stinging tentacles keep other fish away. The clownfish is not harmed by the tentacles because it has a special slimy coating that protects it.
The clownfish helps the anemone by cleaning it, defending it from animals that might try to eat it, and attracting other fish close enough for the anemone to sting and eat.
Explain how mutualism can lead to co-evolution.
coevolution can be explained as two different kinds of living things (species) that have evolved together, meaning they have changed over time in response to each other
Mutualism can lead to co-evolution when both species in a mutually beneficial relationship start evolving in response to each other, resulting in adaptations that make their interaction even more successful
Discuss the balance of predator and prey populations in an ecosystem.
The balance of predator and prey populations involves a cyclical relationship where an increase in prey leads to an increase in predators, which then causes a decrease in prey, and eventually a decrease in predators, restarting the cycle
Discuss the impact of parasitism on population dynamics.
reducing their size
sometimes leading to extinction
survival rates decline
reduced reproduction
directly causing host death.
Explain the concept of "survival of the fittest" in relation to prey.
"Survival of the fittest" means that the prey animals with helpful traits, like speed or camouflage, are more likely to escape predators, survive, and have babies with those same helpful traits
Discuss how symbiotic relationships can evolve over time.
Symbiotic relationships evolve over time through natural selection, a process where advantageous traits are passed on more often, leading to changes in how organisms interact and adapt to each other and their environment. Organisms with genes that help them thrive in a symbiotic relationship are more likely to survive and reproduce, spreading those helpful traits through their populations.