Symbiosis and Animal Communication

A bee and a flower have a symbiotic relationship. The bee helps to pollinate the flower and the bee gets nectar. What type of symbiotic relationship is this?

• commensalism

• parsitism

• mutualism

• competition

Fungus and cattle have a symbiotic relationship. The fungus attacks the cattle's jaw and causes the cattle to get sick. What type of symbiosis is this?

• commensalism

• parsitism

• mutualism

• competition

A shark eats a large meal. A smaller fish eats the leftover food bits.The shark is unaffected. What type of symbiosis is this?

• commensalism

• parsitism

• mutualism

• competition

A dog is bitten by a flea. Why is this parasitism?

• The dog is helped by the flea.

• The flea is harmed by the dog.

• The dog is harmed by the flea.

• The dog is not bothered by the flea.

An oxpecker (a bird) eats ticks off the back of a gazelle. Why is this mutualism?

• Only the oxpecker is helped.

• Both organisms are helped.

• Only the gazelle is helped.

• Neither organism is helped.

The ocean sunfish eats jellyfish. Sunfish have small crustaceans buried in their soft tissue (which harms the sunfish). Sunfish swim to the surface and lie sideways to allow seabirds to eat the crustaceans from their skin. Which list has the correct relationship to the sunfish shown?

• Seabirds: mutualism

  Jellyfish: predation

  Crustaceans: parsitism

• Seabirds: parasitism

  Jellyfish: commensalism

  Crustaceans: predation

• Seabirds: predation

  Jellyfish: mutualism

  Crustaceans: commensalism

• Seabirds: commensalism

  Jellyfish: parasitism

  Crustaceans: mutualism

Nest flies lay eggs in bird nests. The fly eggs become larvae which attach to young birds in the nests. Which statement best describes the relationship between nest flies and young birds?

• The larvae are prey for the young birds

• The larvae are predators of the young birds.

• The young birds are hosts for the larvae.

• The young birds are consumers of the larvae.

Dolphins use whistles, chirps, and clicks in complex patterns to communicate with other dolphins. This type of communication is called

• auditory cues

• visual cues

• pheromones

• tactile cues

You are hiking in the woods documenting the different species you encounter with your camera. As you are hiking, you notice a herd of whitetail deer grazing in a nearby opening. You are able to take a picture of the herd, but want a closer picture. You quietly move closer to the herd when suddenly, a doe (female deer) raises her tail and stomps her back feet. You see the white under her brown tail. Why is the doe raising her tail?

• As a survival instinct to let other deer know there is possible danger in the area.

• To attract a mate.

• To show off her two-toned colors.

• As a signal to the rest of the herd where there is food.

Which scenario demonstrates the best example of visual communication?

• Dogs mark their territory using pheromones to keep other dogs away.

• A puffer fish gulps a large amount of water to make itself blow up large and round to avoid predators.

• Rattlesnakes will rattle their tails to warn their predators to stay away.

• Wolves will howl before they begin a hunt.