Independent Practice: Competition and Ecosystem Stability

Front

What is predation?

Back

Predation is a biological interaction where one organism (the predator) kills and eats another organism (the prey). Example: A spider consuming a housefly.

Front

Define competition in an ecosystem.

Back

Competition in an ecosystem occurs when two or more species or individuals vie for the same resources, such as food, water, or space.

Front

What is mutualism?

Back

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction. Example: Wasps collecting pollen from flowers while pollinating them.

Front

Explain commensalism.

Back

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

Front

What is the role of herbivores in an ecosystem?

Back

Herbivores are organisms that consume plants. They play a crucial role in controlling plant populations and serving as food for predators.

Front

Define parasitism.

Back

Parasitism is a relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (the host). Example: A tapeworm living in the intestines of a mammal.

Front

What is ecosystem stability?

Back

Ecosystem stability refers to the ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure and function over time, despite external stressors.

Front

How do invasive species affect competition in ecosystems?

Back

Invasive species can disrupt local ecosystems by outcompeting native species for resources, leading to declines in native populations.

Front

What is resource partitioning?

Back

Resource partitioning is the process by which competing species use different resources or use the same resource in different ways to reduce competition.

Front

Explain the concept of carrying capacity.

Back

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support without degrading the habitat.