Ecological Relationships Lesson

8.2 Ecological Relationships

Multiple Choice

Termite colonies have workers, soldiers, and kings and queens that each have different jobs. What is the ecological relationship?

• Cooperation
• Parasitism
• Commensalism
• Competition

Multiple Choice

What is the ecological relationship shown in this image of a robberfly and beetle?

• Cooperation
• Parasitism
• Predator-prey
• Competition

Multiple Choice

Cows and pronghorn both eat the same types of food in areas of Utah. What is the ecological relationship?

• Cooperation
• Parasitism
• Commensalism
• Competition

Multiple Choice

Plover birds typically eat parasites trapped inside of crocodiles' mouths. The plover receives a meal, while the crocodile is rid of parasites. What type of ecological relationships does this scenario represent?

• Mutualism

• Predator/Prey

• Competition

• Commensalism

Multiple Choice

Cordyceps are a type of a fungi that hijack insects muscular and nervous systems, eventually leading to the death of the insect. What type of relationship is this?

• Commensalism

• Predator/Prey

• Parasitism

• Competition

Multiple Choice

A feeder fish usually follows behind sharks to pick up food scraps that they leave behind. The fish gets food and the shark is unaffected. This is an example of:

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Decomposition

Multiple Choice

A clownfish uses a sea anenome as a safe place to live. While living there, the clownfish lures in food for the anenome. This is an example of what type of relationship?

• Predator-Prey
• Commensalism
• Mutualism
• Parasitism

Multiple Choice

This is known as a relationship in which one organism benefits, while the other is unaffected.

• Parasitism
• Mutualism
• Immigration
• Commensalism

Keystone Species

Some species play an integral role in the biodiversity of their ecosystem. Keystone species are pillars that ensure the survival of the food web they are a part of.

Examples: Sea otters, African elephants, grizzly bears

Invasive Species

An invasive species can be any kind of living organism—an amphibian (like the cane toad), plant, insect, fish, fungus, bacteria, or even an organism's seeds or eggs—that is not native to an ecosystem and causes harm. They can harm the environment, the economy, or even human health.

Endangered Species

Endangered species are species that are lower in numbers due to human impact, environmental conditions, or species interactions. There are levels of endangerment: from vulnerable to critically endangered/extinct.