Ecological Relationships Quiz

Study Notes

Ecological relationships are interactions between species in an ecosystem that can affect their survival and reproduction.

Symbiosis: A close relationship between two species with varying interactions.
- Mutualism: Both species benefit from the interaction.
- Parasitism: One species benefits while the other is harmed.
- Commensalism: One species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Competition: Occurs when species vie for the same resources in a shared location, such as food, water, space, and mates.
- Can occur within a species (intraspecific competition) or between different species (interspecific competition).
- Example of intraspecific competition: Male birds competing for mates through displays of colorful feathers or songs.
- Example of interspecific competition: Hyenas and lions hunting for prey in the same area.

Scarcity of resources affects survival strategies; in competitive scenarios (like a game), limited resources reduce survival chances.
Human activities can exacerbate competition by reducing available resources, leading to increased stress on ecosystems.

Predation: The act of one species (predator) hunting and consuming another species (prey).
Changes in predator or prey populations can cause significant shifts in community structure; extinction of one species may affect the entire ecosystem.

Game simulation illustrates ecological relationships; students represented species and attempted to gather essential resources while competing against each other.
Post-game discussion encouraged reflection on real-world implications of competition and resource scarcity in ecosystems.

Students are tasked to choose an animal and document:
- An example of predation.
- An example of competition with another species.
- An example of symbiosis.