Biology Week 3 - Vocabulary

A cow is an example of a herbivore because it primarily feeds on plants and vegetation. It has a specialized digestive system that allows it to break down and extract nutrients from plant material. Unlike predators that hunt and consume other animals, or parasites that rely on a host organism for survival, cows obtain their energy and nutrients from consuming plant matter, making them herbivores. Similarly, producers are organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis, which does not apply to cows.

An oak tree is an example of a producer because it is capable of photosynthesis, converting sunlight into energy and producing its own food in the form of glucose. Producers are organisms that can create their own food using energy from the sun, and oak trees do this through their leaves, which contain chlorophyll. They are able to take in carbon dioxide from the air and combine it with water from the ground to produce glucose, which they use for energy and growth.

An omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and other animals. They have a varied diet and can consume a combination of fruits, vegetables, meat, and insects. This dietary flexibility allows omnivores to adapt to different environments and food sources, increasing their chances of survival. Some examples of omnivores include bears, raccoons, and humans.

Both are competing for the same food and there is limited food in the area.

The relationship between cowbirds and robins can best be described as parasitism. This is because the cowbird benefits from having its egg cared for and fed by the robin, while the robin is harmed by having to take care of a baby that is not its own and potentially having its own babies suffer due to competition for food.