Question

1. What are the five symbiotic relationships?

2. What is mutualism? Explain mutualism with an example and a picture.

3. What is commensalism? Explain with an example and a picture.

4. What is predation? Explain with an example and a picture.

5. What is parasitism? Explain with an example and a picture.

6. What is competition? Explain with an example and a picture.


Write a CER paragraph (5- 8 complete sentences) answering the following prompt:

Why are symbiotic relationships important in an ecosystem?

Answer 1

Symbiotic relationships, including mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, and competition, are important for ecosystem balance and interdependence, influencing resource acquisition, niche expansion, population control, natural selection, and biodiversity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Symbiotic relationships are a vital part of ecosystems, where different species interact with each other in various ways. There are five main types of symbiotic relationships: mutualism, commensalism, predation, parasitism, and competition.

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit. An example of mutualism is the relationship between bees and flowers. Bees collect nectar for food, and in the process, they pollinate flowers, which helps the plants reproduce.

Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. An example is the relationship between cattle egrets and grazing mammals; the egrets eat insects stirred up by the grazing animals without affecting them.

Predation is not a symbiotic relationship but an interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, the prey. An example is a lion hunting a gazelle.

Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of another, the host, such as tapeworms in humans.

Competition occurs when two or more species compete for the same resources, such as food or habitat. The competitive exclusion principle states that two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist at constant population values, if other ecological factors remain constant.

Symbiotic relationships are important in ecosystems because they contribute to the balance and interdependence of species. Mutualistic relationships enhance resource acquisition, commensalism allows a species to expand its niche, and even parasitism can help control population sizes. Predation and competition lead to natural selection, promoting adaptations and biodiversity.

Answer 2

1) There are five main symbiotic relationships: mutualism, commensalism, predation, parasitism, and competition.

2) The term mutualism can be simply defined as a relationship in which both species are mutually benefited. This relationship can either be within the species or between the two different species. ... Here ants are the mutualist and acacia trees is the host. The acacia tree provides home and food for the ants.

3) Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits, while the other species is neither harmed nor helped. The species that gains the benefit is called the commensal. ... An example is a golden jackal (the commensal) following a tiger (the host) to feed on leftovers from its kills.

4) Predation is the interaction between organisms in which one organism known as the predator kills another organism which is known as prey. ... Examples of predation are a lion eating deer or a snake eating rats. This results in the transfer of energy from the prey to the predator.

5) Parasitism is generally defined as a relationship between the two living species in which one organism is benefitted at the expense of the other. The organism that is benefitted is called the parasite, while the one that is harmed is called the host. A few examples of parasites are tapeworms, fleas, and barnacles.

6) Competition is a negative interaction that occurs among organisms whenever two or more organisms require the same limited resource. ... For example, animals require food (such as other organisms) and water, whereas plants require soil nutrients (for example, nitrogen), light, and water.

Symbiotic relationships are important because they are a major driving force of evolution. This networking and cooperation among species allows them to survive better than they would as individuals.