Relationships Among Organisms Assignment

Questions and Answers

What will you explore in this assignment?

Common interactions among organisms.

Which organisms are considered predators? Check all that apply.

Organisms that eat animal carcasses (correct)

Organisms that eat meat (correct)

Organisms that eat plants

Organisms that eat plants and animals

What are the three main weapons of predators?

Claws, teeth, and jaws.

Identify the type of symbiosis described: The saguaro cactus provides food for the white-winged dove through its large fruit. The bird consumes the fruit, ingests the seeds, and then deposits the seeds in a new location.

Mutualism. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the type of symbiosis described: The brown-headed cowbirds lay eggs in other birds' nests. They trick the birds into raising their young. The cowbirds hatch first and push the eggs out of the nest. The cowbirds are then fed by the nest-builder.

Parasitism. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the invasion of wild parsnip, including the harm it causes.

The plant can form dense stands that outcompete native plants, reducing biodiversity. Stems, leaves, and flowers contain chemicals that can increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and cause severe dermatitis. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how you can avoid spreading invasive plant species.

Brush/pick seeds off clothing, put seeds found at home in the trash instead of outside, check outdoor pets for attached seeds, stay on trails when hiking, use local firewood only, check boats, trailers, shoes, bikes, and other people for attached seeds/plant parts. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Organism Interactions

Explore common interactions resulting from relationships among organisms.
Focus on five key interactions: predation, symbiosis, competition, commensalism, and parasitism, along with invasive species effects.

Predator Characteristics

Predators consume meat, plants, animal carcasses, and may eat a combination of both.
They play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balances by controlling prey populations.

Predator Weapons

Three main predatory tools are:
- Claws
- Teeth
- Jaws

Mutualism Example

Saguaro cactus and white-winged dove interaction exemplifies mutualism.
Cactus provides food through large fruit, supporting the dove.
Dove aids cactus by dispersing its seeds to new locations.

Parasitism Example

Brown-headed cowbirds exhibit parasitism by laying eggs in other birds' nests.
They manipulate host birds into rearing their young while pushing out the original eggs.
This relationship benefits cowbirds significantly at the expense of host birds.

Invasive Species Impact

Wild parsnip can dominate landscapes, reducing biodiversity by outcompeting native flora.
Contains chemicals that increase skin sensitivity to sunlight, causing severe dermatitis.

Prevention of Invasive Species Spread

To avoid spreading invasive species:
- Remove seeds from clothing after outdoors activities.
- Dispose of seeds at home properly instead of discarding them outside.
- Check pets for seeds after outdoor use.
- Adhere to trails while hiking to avoid plant dispersal.
- Use local firewood to prevent transportation of invasive species.
- Inspect boats, trailers, and outdoor equipment for seed attachment.

Description

This assignment focuses on exploring the interactions among various organisms, including predator-prey relationships and the impact of invasive species. Students will answer questions related to these interactions, enhancing their understanding of ecological dynamics.