03/17 - 6th Grade Ecological Relationships ET

Two species of birds live in the same forest and eat the same type of seeds. Over time, the number of seeds decreases. What is the most likely impact of this change?

• A. Both bird species will stop eating seeds and find new food sources.
  
  

• B. The bird species will compete for the limited seeds, and one may decrease in population.

• C. The bird species will work together to share the seeds equally.

• D. The number of seeds will continue to decrease, but the bird populations will stay the same.

Which of the following is an example of a mutualistic relationship?

• A. A fox hunts and eats a rabbit.

• B. A tapeworm absorbs nutrients from the intestines of a dog.

• C. A bee collects nectar from a flower while helping the flower spread pollen.

• D. A fish hides among coral without harming or helping the coral.

Which of the following interactions show a predator-prey relationship? (Select two.)

• ☐ A wolf chasing and catching a deer.

• ☐ A bird sitting on a buffalo’s back, eating insects.

• ☐ A barnacle attaching itself to a whale for a ride.

• ☐ An owl swooping down to grab a mouse.

Which of the following is the best example of a commensalism relationship?

• A. A lion hunts and eats a zebra.

• B. A bird eats insects off a rhino’s back.

• C. Barnacles attach to a whale and travel through the ocean without harming it.

• D. A tick feeds on a dog’s blood, making the dog itchy.

A group of deer in a forest becomes infected with ticks, which feed on their blood. Over time, the deer grow weaker. How might this parasitic relationship affect the ecosystem?

• A. The deer population may decrease, which could affect predators that rely on them for food.

• B. The deer population will increase because they are getting extra nutrients from the ticks.

• C. The ticks will help the deer by cleaning their fur, making them healthier.

• D. The deer will form a mutualistic relationship with the ticks, and both will benefit.