Mutualism
Commensalism
1. What is symbiosis?
1. What is commensalism?
2. What is mutualism?
2. Why is commensalism harder to demonstrate than parasitism
and mutualism?
3. Describe the relationship between bacteria and the cows
whose intestines they reside in.
3. Describe 5 examples of commensalism. In your description,
explain the specific benefit received by one of the organisms
involved in this relationship.
4. How is mutualism important in ecology?
5. What are the 3 types of mutualism? Explain how they’re
different.
6. Describe 2-3 examples of each type. In your example
explain the benefit that each organism receives.
4. Why do some scientists feel that close interactions between
organisms are unlikely to be completely neutral for either
party?
Parasitism
1. What is parasitism?
2. How do parasites differ from their host?
7. What are parasitoids? How is their behavior connected
with predation?
8. List 4 examples of parasitism. In each example explain
the benefit that the parasite receives and how it harms its
host.
3. Why do you think parasites do not immediately kill their
host?
4. Explain the difference between ectoparasites and
endoparasites.
Competition
1. What is competition?
2. What is necessary for competition to occur?
5. What are vectors?
6. What are epiparasites?
3. How is competition connected to natural selection (survival
of the fittest)?
4. What is detritivory?
4. Explain the difference between interference, exploitation
and apparent competition.
5. How is a “true predator” defined?
5. How are intraspecific and interspecific competition
different? Explain an example of each.
6. What characteristics/adaptations do you think make
certain predators more successful at capturing their prey?
7. How is grazing different from “true predation”?
8. How is parasitism different from grazing?
Predation
1. What is predation?
2. Do predators always kill their prey?
3. What is herbivory?