Interactions in Ecosystems

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What is an ecosystem?

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An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with their physical environment (soil, water, air) in a specific area.

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What is mutualism?

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Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit from the interaction. Example: Bees pollinating flowers while collecting nectar.

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What is commensalism?

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Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. Example: Barnacles attaching to a whale.

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What is parasitism?

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Parasitism is a relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another, often harming it. Example: A tick feeding on a dog's blood.

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What is predation?

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Predation is a biological interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and kills another organism (the prey) for food. Example: A lion hunting a zebra.

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What is competition in an ecosystem?

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Competition occurs when two or more organisms vie for the same resources (food, space, light) in an ecosystem. Example: Bald eagles and black bears fishing in the same lake.

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What is a food chain?

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A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem, starting from producers to various levels of consumers.

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What is a food web?

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A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem, illustrating how different organisms are related through feeding relationships.

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What are producers?

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Producers are organisms that create their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain. Example: Plants.

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What are consumers?

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Consumers are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must eat other organisms for energy. They can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.