Community Ecology Test Review

Front

What is the term for an ecological relationship in which two organisms must compete for a limited resource?

Back

Competition

Front

What type of ecological relationship occurs when one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed?

Back

Commensalism

Front

In the predator-prey relationship between a shark and a seal, what is the term used to describe this interaction?

Back

Predation

Front

What defines an invasive species?

Back

A non-native (not naturally found) species added to an area.

Front

What are the first plants to grow in an ecosystem called?

Back

Pioneer species

Front

What is mutualism in ecology?

Back

A type of interaction where both organisms benefit from the relationship.

Front

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass, while a food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains.

Front

What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Front

What is ecological succession?

Back

The process by which ecosystems change and develop over time.

Front

What is the significance of keystone species in an ecosystem?

Back

Keystone species have a disproportionately large impact on their environment relative to their abundance.