Interactions in Ecosystems

A wasp lays its eggs on a caterpillar's body. The larvae that hatch from the eggs start feeding on the tissue of the caterpillar. What type of ecological relationship do both the organisms share?

• parasitism

• competition

• mutualism

• cooperation

A biologist observes that the same species of butterfly varies in color from one area to another. Which scientific question should the biologist as based on this observation?

• What does this species of butterfly feed its young?

• How do the methods of competition for a mate change from one area to another?

• Does this species of butterfly compete with butterflies of other species for food and resources?

• What are the natural predators of this species of bird?

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A huge bird lays its eggs in a smaller bird's nest and displaces the smaller eggs. The smaller bird raises the big bird's chicks thinking of them as their own. What are the consequences of this biological relationship?

• positive: small bird, negative: large bird

• negative: small bird, positive: large bird

• positive: small bird, positive:large bird

• negative: large bird, negative: small bird

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A tick crawls on a dog and begins to feed. The tick harms the dog by biting its skin, sucking its blood, and causing it to itch. The tick, however, gets food and a warm home. What type of interaction occurs between the flea and the cat?

• parasitism

• competition

• commensalism

• mutualism

A freshwater crocodile and the American alligator are similar species that fee on fish, amphibians, mammals, and birds. The freshwater crocodile is native to Australia and the alligator is found in America. Which statement describes the most likely interaction between these two species if they were suddenly living in the same ecosystem?

• The alligator would act as a predator to the freshwater crocodile.

• Both the alligator and the freshwater crocodile would form a mutualistic relationship.

• The freshwater crocodile would act as a predator to the alligator.

• Both the alligator and the freswater crocodile would compete for food resources.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

A non-photosynthetic plant attaches itself to the roots of some oak tree species. The plant obtains nutrients from the roots of the oak tree, while limiting the amount of water the oak trees can absorb. Which ecological relationship does the non-photosynthetic plant share with the oak tree?

• parasitism

• cooperation

• competition

• mutualism

Which statement is an example of mutualism?

• A deer tick feeds on the blood of a deer, and the deer loses blood and nutrients.

• A bird feeds on food stuck in a crocodile's teeth, and the crocodile gets its

• A koala eats eucalyptus leaves, and it is unharmed by the poison in the leaves.

• A hookworm feeds on the small intestine of a dog, causing the dog to lose weight and become weak.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

What is the relationship of organisms sharing commensalism?

• Both animals in the relationship benefit from each other.

• Both animals compete for the same resources at the same time.

• One of the animals in the relationship is harmed while the other is helped.

• One animal benefits while the other is neither harmed nor helped.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Which is an example of mutualism?

• an egret feeding on insects in grass grazed by cattle

• a lion catching and eating a deer in a forest

• a caterpillar feeding on the leaves of a plant

• a honeybee and a butterfly feeding on nectar of the same flower

What is the best description of the relationship between the two species?

• Species 1 is the prey of species 2.

• Species 1 is a competitor of species 2.

• Species 1 is the predator of species 2.

• Species 1 is a parasite of species 2.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

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