Ecosystem Interactions and Types

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Questions and Answers

Which interaction involves one organism killing another for food?

  • Competition
  • Predation (correct)
  • Symbiosis
  • Parasitism

What is the role of the parasite in a parasitism interaction?

  • It kills the host organism.
  • It competes with the host for resources.
  • It provides nutrients to the host.
  • It benefits at the host's expense. (correct)

Which of the following is an example of predation?

  • A bird building a nest in a tree.
  • A snake eating a rat. (correct)
  • A butterfly pollinating a flower.
  • Worms decomposing dead plants.

In a competition scenario, which of the following is most likely to occur?

<p>Organisms fight for limited resources. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the essential needs of plants to produce their own food?

<p>Carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these organisms is typically part of a mangrove ecosystem?

<p>Fiddler crabs and mangrove trees (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of size and strength, how do predators typically compare to their prey?

<p>Predators are often larger and stronger. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does NOT belong to the definition of parasitism?

<p>Both organisms benefit equally. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which description accurately defines the canopy of the rainforest?

<p>Composed of trees that are 130-180 ft tall (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the relationship between the corals and the algae in the coral reefs considered mutualistic?

<p>The corals receive oxygen from algae, the algae get protection from corals. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of interaction is described when one organism kills another organism for food?

<p>Predation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What kind of interaction is shown when animals like crabs and mollusks help break down plant litter in a mangrove ecosystem through grazing?

<p>Mutualism (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term describes an environment where both living and non-living things interact?

<p>Ecosystem (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem?

<p>Food web (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do shrubs and trees in a tropical rainforest primarily compete for?

<p>Sunlight and soil nutrients (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes the fauna of the rainforest canopy?

<p>Diverse with many birds and insects (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are producers important in an ecosystem?

<p>It is the source of food to the consumers. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the rainforest is characterized by the highest level of sunlight?

<p>Emergent layer (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of corals in the coral reef ecosystem?

<p>They provide shelter for fish. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can be a consequence of deforestation in rainforest ecosystems?

<p>Loss of habitat for numerous species (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which option describes a characteristic of mutualism in ecosystems?

<p>Both species provide resources to each other. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way do algae contribute to coral reefs?

<p>By providing oxygen through photosynthesis. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is most common among plants found in the rainforest understory?

<p>Adaptations to low light (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a food chain in an ecosystem?

<p>The linear flow of energy from one organism to another. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the rainforest is characterized by tall trees that receive the most sunlight?

<p>Emergent (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What types of organisms provide food for carnivores in the rainforest ecosystem?

<p>Herbivores (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of coral reef is located closest to the shore?

<p>Fringing reef (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant role of mangrove swamps in the ecosystem?

<p>Breeding ground for fishes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In mutualism, how do both organisms benefit from their interaction?

<p>They both receive nutrients. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines commensalism in ecological interactions?

<p>One organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do food chains and food webs illustrate in an ecosystem?

<p>The flow of nutrients and energy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following interactions describes competition between organisms?

<p>Struggle for survival resources (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Ecosystem

A place where living and non-living things interact and depend on each other for survival.

Producers (ecosystem)

Plants that make their own food, forming the base of the food chain.

Herbivore

Animal that eats plants.

Carnivore

Animal that eats other animals.

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Food Chain

A series of events where one organism eats another, showing how energy flows through an ecosystem.

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Commensalism

One organism benefits, the other isn't harmed.

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Mutualism

Both organisms benefit from the relationship.

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Competition

Organisms competing for resources like food or space.

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Predation

One organism kills another for food.

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Parasitism

One organism depends on another for needs like food, growth and reproduction.

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Mangrove Ecosystem

An ecosystem containing mangrove trees, fiddler crabs, and fish.

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Plant food source

Elements plants need to make food (produce through process called photosynthesis).

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Plant Food Ingredients

Carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and sunlight are crucial to plant growth.

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Question 1 Answer

Mangrove trees, fiddler crabs, and fish.

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Question 2 Answer

Carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight.

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Food web

The interconnected network of food chains in an ecosystem.

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Producer

An organism that makes its own food, usually through photosynthesis.

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Mutualistic relationship

A relationship where both organisms benefit.

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Coral-Algae Relationship

A mutualistic relationship where corals receive oxygen from algae, and algae are protected by corals.

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Consumer

An organism that eats other organisms for energy.

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Importance of Producers

Producers are the source of food for consumers in an ecosystem.

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Role of decomposers

Organisms that break down dead organic matter.

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Grazing in mangroves

Crabs and mollusks breaking down plant litter by grazing in mangrove ecosystem.

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Rainforest Canopy Height

The rainforest canopy is made up of trees that are typically 130-180 feet tall.

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Predation Interaction

A relationship where one organism eats another for energy.

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Ecosystem Definition

A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their non-living environment.

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Competition in Rainforest

Shrubs and trees compete for sunlight and soil nutrients in the same area.

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Competition for Resources

Organisms that share the same area compete for limited resources.

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Rainforest Canopy Characteristics

The rainforest canopy is a dense layer of trees, high above the ground.

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Predation Example

An animal hunting and consuming another animal for food.

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Ecosystem Components

Ecosystems include both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components that interact.

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Study Notes

Ecosystem Interactions

  • An ecosystem is an environment where living and non-living things interact, enabling survival and affecting each other.
  • Examples include tropical rainforests, coral reefs, and mangrove swamps.
  • In rainforests, living things include plants and animals; non-living things include soil, air, humidity, water, and sunlight. Rainforests have distinct layers: emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor.
  • Producers (plants) provide food for consumers (herbivores and carnivores), whose feeding relationships are represented by food chains and food webs.

Coral Reefs

  • Coral reefs are habitats for marine life, serving as breeding grounds.
  • Types include fringing reefs (hugging shorelines), barrier reefs (between open sea and lagoon), and coral atolls (enclosing a lagoon).

Mangrove Swamps

  • Mangrove swamps are ecosystems largely composed of mangrove plants and animals like crustaceans and migratory birds. Non-living components include water, sand, mud, rocks and sunlight.
  • Mangrove swamps are vital for fish breeding and marine animal survival.

Ecosystem Interactions

  • Commensalism: Organisms live together without harming each other (e.g., orchids on a tree).
  • Mutualism: Both organisms benefit (e.g., bees and flowers).
  • Competition: Organisms compete for resources (e.g., sunlight, water, nutrients).
  • Predation: One organism kills another for food.
  • Parasitism: One organism (parasite) depends on another (host) for food, reproduction, with potential harm to the host.

Food Webs and Chains

  • Organisms are interconnected via food chains and webs.
  • Food chains begin with producers, followed by consumers, and end with decomposers.
  • Food webs represent interconnected food chains.

Coral Reefs (Interaction)

  • Coral and algae in coral reefs have a mutualistic relationship.
  • Corals receive oxygen from algae; algae get protection from corals.

Mangrove Swamps (Interaction)

  • Animals like crabs and mollusks break down plant matter, supporting the ecosystem.
  • Producers are the base of a food chain, for food for consumers, important to the ecosystem.

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