Symbiosis (Interactions Between Organisms)

Front

What is symbiosis?

Back

Symbiosis is a close and long-term interaction between two different species, which can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral to one of the organisms.

Front

What are the three main types of symbiotic relationships?

Back

The three main types of symbiotic relationships are mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

Front

Define mutualism.

Back

Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit from the interaction.

Front

Define commensalism.

Back

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

Front

Define parasitism.

Back

Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other.

Front

What is competition in ecology?

Back

Competition occurs when two or more organisms vie for the same resources, such as food, space, or mates.

Front

Give an example of a mutualistic relationship.

Back

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

Front

What is a parasite?

Back

A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food at the host's expense.

Front

What is an example of a commensal relationship?

Back

An example of commensalism is barnacles attaching to a whale; barnacles benefit from being carried to food sources, while the whale is unaffected.

Front

What does a food web illustrate?

Back

A food web illustrates the complex feeding relationships and energy flow between different organisms in an ecosystem.