Ecological Relationships
WebQuest
⮚Introduction:
There are five main types of relationships between living things in an ecosystem:
predation, competition, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
Please watch the following video:
Ecosystems
⮚ Task:
At the end of this WebQuest, you will be asked to identify organisms’ roles in
ecological relationships.
⮚ Process:
PREDATION
Visit the following website. Read “What is a
Predator?” and answer the questions:
Predator Facts
1. Predators are wild animals that hunt, or prey on, other
Predator animals need the flesh of the animals that they kill to survive.
2. Predators are
which means their diet consists of meat.
3. Opposite of predator, you have prey —
4. Some prey animals are
meaning they eat plants. Other prey species are
which means they will eat plants or animals.
5. Can predators be either carnivores or omnivores? Explain.
View the following video and answer the question:
The Stunning Life Cycle of a Ladybug
6. Explain how a ladybug can be both predator and prey.
Play:
Can You Match the Predator to Its Prey?
Can You Match the Predator to Its Prey?
Using the information in the quiz, delete the incorrect answers the following questions:
7. Insects are often hunted by what type of bird?
8. This, in turn, could be hunted down by which creature?
9. Thanks (or no thanks) to the food chain, this creature can also be hunted down
by which flying creature?
View the following video and answer the question:
Venus Fly Trap Catches Fly
10.Flies could be prey to predator plants, too! What plant snacks on this fly?
View the following video and answer the questions:
Predator vs. Prey
11.Are predators or their prey more likely to be successful?
12.Explain why it is essential for animals to eat each other to keep the delicate balance of
nature.
COMPETITION:
Visit the following website. Read “Competition in
ecosystems” and answer the questions:
Competition in Ecosystems Article
13.When does competition occur between organisms in an ecosystem?
14.Animals compete for
15.Plants compete for
16.How are interspecific competition and intraspecific competition alike?
17.How are interspecific competition and intraspecific competition different?
18.
Individuals that are better competitors will have a greater chance of
View the following video and answer the questions:
Competition in Ecosystems Video
19.What are some biotic factors organisms compete for?
20.What are some abiotic factors organisms compete for?
21.Resources in all ecosystems are
22.Which organisms are most likely to die from competition?
23.True or False? Organisms only compete with their own species.
SYMBIOSIS:
Visit the following website. Read “Animal
Partnerships” and follow the directions:
Animal Partnerships
After reading, drag and drop the faces into the circles to describe how each organism is affected
in the relationship. You may need to make additional copies of the faces.
24.Mutualism:
25.Commensalism:
26.Parasitism:
View the following video and answer the questions:
Symbiosis: Mutualism, Commensalism, and Parasitism
27.What type of relationship do a clownfish and sea anemone have?
28.Explain why a clownfish can touch an anemone when other organisms cannot.
29.Explain how there is a symbiotic relationship between yogurt and people.
View the following video and answer the questions:
Symbiosis: Mutualism
30.Define symbiosis:
31.Describe the mutualistic relationship between ants and
the acacia tree.
View the following video and answer the questions:
Symbiosis: Commensalism
32.Explain the relationship between the Dewdrop spider and the much larger Nephila spider.
View the following video and answer the questions:
Symbiosis: Parasitism
33.Explain how being bit by a mosquito and stung by a wasp are very different things.
Visit and explore the following website and answer
the following questions:
Symbiosis
34.
List three things that they have learned from this lesson.
a. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
35.
List two questions that they still have.
a. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
36.
Describe one aspect of this WebQuest that you enjoyed.
a. __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
⮚ Final Task:
View the following videos or pictures. Answer the questions that follow.
Word Bank
Predator Pre
y
Predatio Interspecifi Intraspecifi
n
c
c
Competitio Competitio
n
n
Commensalis
m
Mutualis
m
Parasitis
m
37.What type of relationship exists between the common teasel and all of the other plants?
Teasel: Invasive Species Crowds Out Native Plants and Pollinators
Answer:
38.What type of relationship exists between this mistletoe and the oak tree?
Hint: Mistletoe extracts water and nutrients from the oak tree to the
tree’s detriment.
Answer:
39.What type of relationship exists between the rams?
Big Horn Rams Head Butting
Answer:
40.What type of relationship exists between these organisms?
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog
A
B
“A” Answer:
“B” Answer:
41.What type of relationship exists between bumble bees and flowers?
Bumble Bee Dislodging Pollen
Hint: Pollen provides bumble bees with protein. They also make honey by
chewing pollen and mixing it with their saliva.
Answer:
42.American Robin Catches Fat Worm
The robin is
Answer:
The worm is the
Answer:
⮚ Conclusion:
View the following video:
Ecological Relationships