Ecology Review

Front

What is mutualism?

Back

Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction. An example is the relationship between birds and alligators, where birds eat food from the alligator's teeth, benefiting both.

Front

What is the difference between abiotic and biotic factors?

Back

Abiotic factors are non-living components of an ecosystem, such as soil, water, and climate. Biotic factors are living components, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

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What is a predator-prey relationship?

Back

A predator-prey relationship is an interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and eats another organism (the prey). An example is a spider catching a fly.

Front

What happens if there are too many prey and not enough predators?

Back

If there are too many prey and not enough predators, the prey population may grow too large, leading to competition for resources and potential starvation.

Front

Define commensalism.

Back

Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. An example is barnacles attaching to a whale.

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What is parasitism?

Back

Parasitism is a relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (the host). An example is a tick feeding on a deer.

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What is an ecosystem?

Back

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, including both biotic and abiotic factors.

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What are producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers are organisms that create their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, such as plants and algae.

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What are consumers in an ecosystem?

Back

Consumers are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must eat other organisms for energy. They can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

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