Role of Predators in Ecosystems

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What tactic do ambush bugs and doodlebugs use to catch their prey?

They blend in with their environment and wait quietly for prey to approach before grabbing it.

What role do predators like the Asian lady beetle play in ecosystems?

They serve as natural enemies of pest species, controlling their populations and maintaining ecosystem balance.

What is the main difference between endoparasites and ectoparasites?

Endoparasites live inside the host's body, while ectoparasites live on the surface of the host's body or in its nest.

What is the term for the practice of feeding on blood, commonly found in insects that parasitize vertebrate animals?

Hematophagy Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of 'true' parasites?

They do not kill their host, but may cause harm or disease through other means. Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of having predators like the Asian lady beetle in an ecosystem?

They help control pest populations, which can prevent damage to crops and maintain ecosystem balance. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes parasitoids from 'true' parasites, such as fleas and mosquitoes?

Parasitoids feed on the internal organs and tissues of the host individual and eventually kill it, whereas true parasites do not. Signup and view all the answers

Which insects are known to seek vertebrate blood meals throughout their life cycles?

Fleas, sucking lice, bed bugs, and conenosed bugs, as well as numerous members of the order Diptera, including mosquitoes and flies. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between parasitoids and zoophagous insects?

Parasitoids live parasitically as larvae on a host, but the adult is free-living, whereas zoophagous insects live in or on the body of a single host individual during their larval stage but become free-living as adults. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first law of thermodynamics, and how does it relate to energy flow in ecosystems?

The first law states that energy can be neither created nor destroyed, and it indicates that energy flow through an ecosystem is a transfer of energy from one form to another. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary consequence of energy transformations in ecosystems, according to the second law of thermodynamics?

Every energy transformation reduces potential energy because heat energy is lost to the system in the process. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of parasitoids that requires them to live parasitically as larvae on a host?

They require and eat only one animal in their life span. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of saprophagous insects in ecosystems, and how do they contribute to biogeochemical cycling?

Saprophagous insects, also known as decomposers, play an important role in recycling nutrients in ecosystems by feeding on dead plants or animals. Signup and view all the answers

How do herbivorous insects affect plant populations, and what are the implications for population dynamics?

Herbivorous insects can injure plants by chewing leaves or sucking sap, which can affect plant population sizes and dynamics. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of energy for heterotrophs, and how does it flow through ecosystems?

The primary source of energy for heterotrophs is autotrophs, which produce energy through photosynthesis. Signup and view all the answers

How do the feeding behaviors of herbivorous insects evolve in response to their host plants, and what are the implications for the evolution of species?

Herbivorous insects evolve to develop specific feeding behaviors in response to their host plants, which can lead to the development of new species. Signup and view all the answers

How do saprophagous insects contribute to energy flow in ecosystems, and what would be the consequences of their absence?

Saprophagous insects contribute to energy flow by breaking down organic matter, releasing energy and nutrients that support other organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of parasitism in the context of insect-plant interactions, and how does it affect the host plant?

An example of parasitism is when insects, such as aphids, suck sap from plants, benefiting from the plant's resources while harming the plant. Signup and view all the answers