Final answer:
Organisms can be predators, herbivores, parasites, or parasitoids based on their ecological roles and feeding behavior. Humans are heterotrophs and omnivores, fulfilling roles as primary and tertiary consumers. Mutualism and factors like light and nutrient availability affect net primary productivity in ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The types of organisms involved in the given descriptions can be matched as follows:
- Predators would typically be organisms like lions or ladybugs that consume other animals. Predators feed on other organisms for energy.
- Herbivores are organisms that eat plants for energy. Rabbits, deer, and caterpillars are examples of herbivores.
- Parasites are organisms that live on or within a host and get their food at the expense of their host. Parasites would include a helminth feeding from its host.
- Parasitoids are a type of predator that lay their eggs on or in the body of an insect host, which is then used as a food source for the developing larvae. The granary weevil is an example of a parasitoid.
Humans can be classified as heterotrophs because they acquire energy by consuming organic substances. Most humans are also omnivores because they eat both animal and plant-based foods. Thus, humans are both primary consumers when they eat plant materials and tertiary consumers when they consume meat from animals that have consumed other animals or plants.
An example of mutualism is the relationship between the Karner blue butterfly larva and ants. The larva provides a carbohydrate source for the ants, and in return, the ants protect and tend to the larva.
Main factors affecting net primary productivity in ecosystems include light and nutrient availability. An overabundance of nutrients can lead to algae blooms in aquatic environments.