Science: Roles And Relationships In The EcoSystem

When two organisms require the same resources from their environment, they engage in competition with each other to obtain those resources. This can occur in various forms such as competition for food, water, territory, or mates. The organisms may employ different strategies to outcompete each other, such as developing better adaptations or behaviors. Competition is a common ecological interaction that plays a crucial role in shaping the distribution and abundance of species in an ecosystem.

Consumers that eat only animals are called carnivores. Carnivores are organisms that primarily feed on the flesh of other animals. They have adapted physical features such as sharp teeth and claws to capture and kill their prey. Unlike herbivores that primarily consume plants and omnivores that consume both plants and animals, carnivores rely solely on animal sources for their nutritional needs. They play an important role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems by regulating the population of herbivores and preventing overgrazing.

A food web is a network of interconnected food chains that shows the flow of energy and nutrients through an ecosystem. It includes various organisms and their feeding relationships, illustrating how energy is transferred from one organism to another. Unlike a food chain, which only shows a linear sequence of organisms, a food web provides a more realistic representation of the complex interactions between different species in an ecosystem. It helps to understand the interdependence of organisms and the stability of the ecosystem.

Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither harmed nor benefited. In this scenario, the orchid benefits by getting enough sunlight to grow, while the tree is not affected either positively or negatively. The orchid does not harm the tree or take any resources from it, making it an example of commensalism.

The given scenario describes a mutualistic relationship where both organisms benefit from each other. The sea anemone provides shelter to the clown fish, offering protection from predators, while the clown fish attracts smaller fish to the sea anemone, providing it with a source of food. In this mutually beneficial interaction, both organisms rely on each other for survival and gain advantages from the relationship.

Scavengers are consumers that feed on dead organisms, such as vultures or hyenas. However, decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, also play a crucial role in breaking down dead organisms and recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. Therefore, decomposers are the correct answer to this question as they are the consumers that feed on dead organisms.

A predator is a consumer that actively seeks out and hunts its prey. Predators are typically carnivorous animals that rely on their hunting skills and physical adaptations to catch and kill their prey. They play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems by controlling the population of prey species.

Consumers are organisms that obtain their energy by consuming other organisms. They are an essential part of the food chain and play a crucial role in ecosystem dynamics. Consumers can be classified into different categories based on their feeding habits, such as herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. They help maintain the balance of the ecosystem by regulating population sizes and transferring energy through the food chain.

When a chicken eats a caterpillar that feeds on plants, it is considered a secondary consumer. This is because the chicken is consuming another organism (the caterpillar) that is already consuming the plant. In a food chain or food web, primary consumers are herbivores that directly eat plants, while secondary consumers are carnivores that eat other consumers. In this scenario, the chicken is not directly consuming the plant but is instead consuming another consumer (the caterpillar), making it a secondary consumer.

Symbiotic is the correct answer because it means living together in a mutually beneficial relationship. It is derived from the word "symbiosis," which refers to the interaction between two different organisms living together. In this context, the word "symbiotic" suggests a close and mutually beneficial relationship between two entities. The other options, symbolism and logistic, do not convey the same meaning of living together in a mutually beneficial way.

Parasitism is the correct answer because it describes a relationship where one organism benefits (the parasite) while the other organism is harmed (the host). In this type of relationship, the parasite feeds on the host without killing it. This is different from mutualism, where both organisms benefit, and commensalism, where one organism benefits while the other is unaffected.

An omnivore is a term used to describe an animal that consumes both plants and animals as part of its diet. In this case, a chicken that eats both plants and animals fits the definition of an omnivore.

The correct answer is "autotrophs." Autotrophs are organisms that are capable of producing their own food through processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. They convert inorganic substances into organic compounds, providing a source of energy for themselves and other organisms in the food chain. Autotrophs play a crucial role in ecosystems as primary producers, as they form the foundation of the food chain by providing energy for heterotrophs.