Interactions in the Ecosystem

Hermit crabs live in shells made and then abandoned by snails. This relationship neither helps nor harms the snails. Which interaction is this?

• Parasitism

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Competition

In which type of interaction does one animal eat another for energy and nutrients?

• Competition

• Parasitism

• Predation

• Mutualism

Ostriches and Gazelles feed next to each other. They both watch for predators and alert each other to danger. Since the visual abilities of the two species are different, they can each identify threats the other animal would not as readily see. What type of interaction is this?

• Parasitism

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Competition

A lichen is a combination of two organisms, an alga and a fungus. The fungus gets its food from the alga while the alga gets water from the fungus. This is an example of which relationship?

• competition

• mutualism

• commensalism

• parasitism

Which of he following interactions demonstrates a PARASITIC relationship?

• A mosquito sucking blood from a warm blooded animal.
• A group of baby otters floating together to help warm each other in the cold waters.
• Many fish swimming together to protect each other from predators.
• Two hyenas fighting over a female to mate with.

Currently sharks are on a rapid decline due to overfishing. If sharks go extinct will this affect the biodiversity of the ocean?

• No, sharks are not important.
• No, sharks will only affect the seal populations.
• Yes, it will disrupt the entire food chain in the ocean.
• Yes, but only a little.

Which feature helps an animal hide from other animals?

• looking like a dangerous animal
• being the same color as the place it lives (camoflauge)
• having sharp claws or a strong shel
• having only a few young and caring for them

A scientist puts 100 houseflies in a sealed container; then sprays an insecticide into the container.  Ninety-six of the flies die.  Four survive.  The scientist lets the survivors mate and produce offspring, then repeats the experiment with 100 offspring.  Fifty-six of them survive the spray.  This experimental result is evidence of – 

• adaptive radiation 
• speciation
• natural selection
• extinction

There is high in proteins in the soil and, through a series of microbial

modifications, ending up as sulfates that plants can use. To what cycle does this refer?

• Carbon

• Sulfur

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

This is the process where all the decomposers turn into ammonia.

• Respiration

• Ammonifying

• Combustion

• Ammonification