Interactions in Ecosystems

Which of the following is an example of a predator/prey relationship?

• Mistletoe attaches to another plant and uses its minerals and nutrients.

• A fungus grows on a fallen log and decomposes it.

• A tick latches on to a dog's ear and consumes its blood.

• A wolf hunts, kills, and consumes a deer for nutrition.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following is true of a parasitic relationship?

• The parasite benefits for a time; however, both the parasite and the host eventually die as a result of the relationship.

• The parasite benefits, and the host is harmed; however, the host is not generally killed.

• The parasite benefits, and the host is killed.

• The host benefits from the relationship, and the parasite is harmed.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Consider the following situation:

A leech attaches itself to the gums of a crocodile and sucks the crocodile's blood. Then, the crocodile opens its jaws so that an Egyptian Plover bird can kill and eat the leech. The relationship between the crocodile and the Egyptian Plover is an example of

• predation.

• mutualism.

• parasitism.

• commensalism.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Often, a goby fish and a shrimp will live together in a burrow the shrimp has dug in the sand. The shrimp is almost blind and therefore is unable to see predators approaching when he is outside of the burrow. When the shrimp is in danger, the goby fish touches the shrimp with its tail to warn him. Then, both go back into their burrow for safety.

Which type of relationship does this represent?

• commensalism

• mutualism

• parasitism

• predator/prey

A dodder plant wraps itself around the stem of a clover plant, seriously damaging the clover. Small root-like structures from the dodder allow it to gain nutrients and water from the clover.

Which type of relationship does this represent?

• commensalism

• parasitism

• competition

• mutualism

A bee lands on a flower to collect nectar needed to make food. Pollen from the flower sticks to the bee’s body. The bee then flies to another flower to collect more nectar. While there, the pollen from the first flower rubs off, pollinating the plant. This allows the plant to reproduce. Which type of relationship does this represent?

• competition

• parasitism

• commensalism

• mutualism

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NGSS.MS-LS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Which relationship below is an example of competition in an ecosystem?

• Birds eat the insects that cattle disturb while grazing, and they occasionally ride on the cows' backs.

• Rabbits eat the grasses and shrubs in a meadow, and wolves eat the rabbits in the meadow.

• Squirrels nest in an oak tree, and insects live under the ground near the tree.

• Bald eagles and black bears fish from the same mountain lake.

Mites are tiny organisms that can ride on top of insects such as beetles in order to move quickly from place to place. Mites do not provide any kind of benefit to the insect they ride on.

This is an example of which type of relationship?

• commensalism

• predation

• mutualism

• parasitism

Humans and dogs often have a relationship in which the dog provides protection and companionship in return for food and shelter. What type of relationship does this illustrate?

• parasitism

• mutualism

• predator/prey

• commensalism

Ants live in the hollow thorns of an acacia tree. The tree provides food and shelter for the ants. The ants protect the tree from herbivores that might otherwise eat the tree. Which type of relationship does this represent?

• commensalism

• mutualism

• predator/prey

• parasitism

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2