Question

Community ecology focuses on the interactions between different populations. Determine which type of interaction is described in each example:

1. Commensalism: Small fish accompany sharks and dine on leftover scraps from the shark.
2. Predation: Lions hunt zebras and wildebeest.
3. Commensalism: Mistletoe obtains nutrients from a tree host.
4. Parasitism: Sheep liver flukes feed on bile and can weaken or kill their hosts.
5. Herbivory: Mountain goats eat wild flowers in Olympic National Park.
6. Commensalism: A small shrimp takes shelter inside a sponge, which is unaffected.
7. Mutualism: Gut bacteria get energy from our food while making Vitamin K for us.
8. Mutualism: Flowers are pollinated by animals that are nourished by nectar.

Answer 1

Community ecology deals with the interactions between populations, like predation, commensalism, and mutualism. Examples include sharks and fish (commensalism), lions and zebras (predation), and gut bacteria and humans (mutualism). Ecologists use these concepts to understand community dynamics and biodiversity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Community ecology examines the interactions between different populations within a community. Here is the determination of the type of interaction exhibited in each provided example:

Commensalism: The small fish accompanying sharks and feeding on leftovers showcase commensalism, where they benefit while the sharks are unaffected.

Predation: Lions hunting zebras and wildebeest are an example of predation, where one species (the predator) feeds on another (the prey).

Commensalism or Parasitism: Mistletoe obtaining nutrients from a host tree is debated; it can be seen as commensalism if the tree is largely unaffected, but is more accurately described as parasitism since mistletoe can harm the tree.

Parasitism: Sheep liver flukes feeding on bile from their hosts is a case of parasitism, where the parasite benefits at the expense of the host.

Herbivory: Mountain goats eating wildflowers represent herbivory, where animals eat plants.

Commensalism: A shrimp taking shelter in a sponge without affecting the sponge shows commensalism.

Mutualism: Gut bacteria making vitamin K for us while getting energy from our food is an example of mutualism, where both species benefit.

Mutualism: Flowers and their animal pollinators both benefit from nectar and pollination, respectively, making this an instance of mutualism.

Community ecologists study these interactions to understand how they influence community structure, biodiversity, and ecological balance.