Ecological Relationships

Front

What is competition in ecology?

Back

Competition occurs when more than one individual or population tries to use the same limited resource.

Front

What is parasitism?

Back

Parasitism is a relationship where one organism (the parasite) latches onto another organism (the host) and feeds off it, often harming the host.

Front

What happens to the 90% of energy not transferred to the next trophic level?

Back

The 90% of energy is lost as heat into the environment, used by the organism in digestion/metabolism, or exists as waste products.

Front

What type of relationship is a wolf eating a rabbit?

Back

Predator/prey relationship.

Front

What is a heterotroph?

Back

An organism that obtains energy from consuming the bodies of other organisms.

Front

What is a producer in an ecosystem?

Back

A producer is an organism that can make its own food, typically through photosynthesis, like plants.

Front

Define mutualism in ecology.

Back

Mutualism is a relationship where both organisms benefit from the interaction.

Front

What is a trophic level?

Back

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients.

Front

What is an autotroph?

Back

An autotroph is an organism that produces its own food from inorganic substances, like plants.

Front

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the soil.