Crash Course Zoology: Parasites and Ecosystems

The video explores the American black bear and its role as a host to various parasites, both ectoparasites and endoparasites. It delves into the ecological significance of parasites, their transmission methods, and their evolutionary relationships with hosts. The video also highlights the importance of parasites in ecosystems and conservation efforts, emphasizing their role in natural selection and ecological balance.

What are the two ecosystems associated with the American black bear?

• The forest and the ocean

• The ocean and the bear itself

• The forest and the bear itself

• The desert and the bear itself

What is the term used to describe the number of parasites an individual animal carries?

• Parasite mass

• Parasite weight

• Parasite load

• Parasite burden

How do directly transmitted parasites find their hosts?

• By being eaten by the host

• By using a vector

• By waiting in tall grass and hopping on

• By swimming in water

What is hyperparasitism?

• Parasites that live inside their hosts

• Parasites that reproduce inside their hosts

• Parasites that attack other parasites

• Parasites that live outside their hosts

What is adelphoparasitism?

• Parasites targeting fungi

• Parasites targeting plants

• Parasites targeting closely related species

• Parasites targeting unrelated species

Why are parasites considered important in ecosystems?

• They only affect predators

• They have no role in ecosystems

• They are a fundamental part of the food web

• They are harmful to all species

What is conservation-induced extinction?

• When a species goes extinct due to natural causes

• When a species is saved from extinction

• When conservation efforts lead to the extinction of another species

• When a species is introduced to a new habitat

How can parasites be used to track environmental changes?

• By measuring their size

• By observing their color

• By tracking their abundance

• By counting their offspring

What role do parasites play in evolution?

• They only affect plant evolution

• They slow down evolution

• They are an agent of natural selection

• They have no role in evolution

What might studying parasites reveal about animal behavior?

• How animals evolved complex social relationships

• Nothing significant

• How animals choose their habitats

• How animals find food