Ecology Basics

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What is competition in ecology?

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Competition is a relationship between organisms where they vie for the same resources, such as food, water, or space, which can limit their growth and survival.

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What is an herbivore?

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An herbivore is an organism that primarily eats plants.

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What happens to the prey population when the number of predators increases?

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The prey population typically decreases as predators consume more of them.

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What is the effect of removing a species from a food web?

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Removing a species, such as a grasshopper, can significantly impact other organisms that rely on it for food, leading to population declines.

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What is commensalism?

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

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What is predation?

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Predation is an interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and eats another organism (the prey).

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What is mutualism?

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

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem.

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What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and helping to recycle energy within the ecosystem.

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What is a niche?

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A niche is the role or function of an organism within its ecosystem, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other organisms.