Community interactions Test Review

Front

What is competition in ecological terms?

Back

Competition occurs when two or more species or individuals vie for the same resources, such as food, space, or mates, which can limit their growth and survival.

Front

Define commensalism.

Back

Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Front

What is mutualism?

Back

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.

Front

Explain parasitism.

Back

Parasitism is a relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (the host), often harming it.

Front

Give an example of competition in nature.

Back

An example of competition is when two species of birds compete for the same nesting sites.

Front

What is an example of commensalism?

Back

An example of commensalism is barnacles attaching to a whale; the barnacles benefit by getting a place to live, while the whale is unaffected.

Front

Describe an example of mutualism.

Back

An example of mutualism is the relationship between bees and flowering plants; bees get nectar for food, and plants get pollinated.

Front

What is the difference between mutualism and commensalism?

Back

In mutualism, both species benefit, while in commensalism, one species benefits and the other is unaffected.

Front

How does parasitism differ from mutualism?

Back

In parasitism, one organism benefits at the expense of another, while in mutualism, both organisms benefit.

Front

What role does competition play in an ecosystem?

Back

Competition helps regulate population sizes and can lead to natural selection, influencing which species thrive.