Zebras 101
This is the name of the zebra's journey between the North and South during the wet and dry seasons to find resources.
What is the Great Migration?
These are the three main types of symbiosis we've discussed.
What is mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism?
These are the names of the three types of zebras.
What are Grevy's, Mountain and Plains?
This is the type of competition that occurs between members of the same species.
What is Intraspecific?
This is the dizzying effect zebras use to defend against predators, when they stick together and create an optical illusion with their stripes.
What is motion dazzle?
This is the device used by scientists to monitor zebra migration patterns.
What are GPS tracking collars?
This is the type of symbiosis where one organism benefits while the other is harmed.
What is parasitism?
This weather phenomenon, characterized by a long period of no rain, is the biggest natural threat to zebra survival.
What is a drought?
If a Grevy's zebra competes with livestock, such as cows, horses, etc. for water, what type of competition does this represent?
What is interspecific?
This behavioral adaptation involves zebras traveling long distances every year to find fresh grass and water following the rains.
What is migration?
What is the name of the role the zebra plays when it watches for lions and other predators while others in the herd eat?
What is a sentinel?
If a zebra allows an oxpecker to stay on its back and eat the ticks and flies that land there, while the zebra stays healthy due to the "pest control" the oxpecker provides, which type of symbiosis does this represent?
What is mutualism?
This is the term used to describe the variety of all living things, such as plants, animals, and other organisms, living together in an ecosystem.
What is biodiversity?
If a drought dries up most of the watering holes, the competition between zebras and other animals like wildebeests will do this.
What is increase?
This is how close zebras must stay to a permanent water source, unless migrating, in order to survive.
What is 6 to 10 miles?
This part of the Grevy's zebra is larger and more "mule-like" than other species, helping them dissipate heat and hear predators.
What are the ears?
A remora suctions itself onto a shark to get a free ride and to feed off of the shark's food scraps. The shark is completely unaffected by this. What type of symbiosis does this represent?
What is commensalism?
Rainfall and temperature are examples of these "non-living" factors that determine how many zebras an ecosystem can support.
What are abiotic factors?
When a drought occurs, the "carrying capacity" of the savanna decreases. This causes the intensity of competition between zebras and other herbivores to do this.
What is increase?
If a certain area in Kenya has only enough food to support 250 zebras, what does this represent?
What is carrying capacity?
This is the word used to describe a family group of zebras.
What is a harem?
Some savanna birds will lead honey badgers to beehives. The badger breaks the hive open, and both animals share the honey. This is this type of symbiosis.
What is mutualism?
This is the term used to describe the changes in the ecosystem that affect zebra survival rates, such as droughts, floods and wildfires. (Hint - 2 words)
What are natural disruptions?
Because zebras are "pioneer grazers," they eat the tallest, toughest grass first, which actually helps the smaller animals access the shorter, softer grass underneath. This is called _______________.
What is resource partitioning?
This is what happens when the large, open spaces zebras need to roam are broken into small, isolated pieces of land.
What is habitat fragmentation?