Ecology
Answer Key
1. What are two major factors that affect aquatic biomes?
A.Commensalism and Mutualism
B. Salinity and Sunlight - answer
C. Carbon dioxide and carbohydrates
D. Endemic and nonnative species
Answer Explanation: Salinity and sunlight are the two major factors that affect aquatic biomes. Salinity is the salt concentration of water and sunlight penetrates to a certain depth that depends on the clarity of the water.
2. Primary succession occurs on surfaces that didn’t previously support plant life
A.True - answer
B. False
Answer Explanation: Succession is the process at which an ecosystem changes over time and it occurs after a disturbance or in an that had no soil to begin with. Primary succession occurs on surfaces that didn’t previously support plant life. Secondary succession occurs in areas that have previously supported life such as an affected area.
3. What are the three types of symbiosis?
A. Producers, consumers, and decomposers
B. Herbivore, Predator, and prey
C. Mutualism, Commensalism, and Parasitism -answer
D. Carbon cycle, Nitrogen cycle, and Water cycle
Answer Explanation: There are several types of symbiosis such are: Mutualism, Commensalism, and Parasitism. A mutualism interaction is when both organisms benefit. A commensalism interaction is when one organism benefits and the other does not benefit and is not harmed. Lastly, A parasitism interaction is when one organism benefits and the other is harmed.
4. Describe the difference between Abiotic and Biotic factors. Be sure to include examples!
The biotic factors are the living parts of the ecosystem including the community and the population. The abiotic factors are the nonliving parts of the ecosystem including temperature, oxygen, sunlight, and etc. Biotic and abiotic factors interact with each other to form ecosystems of different sizes.
5. Describe the difference between the three types of symbiosis. Include examples for each type
A mutualism interaction is when both organisms benefit. An example of a mutualism interaction is a cleaner fish who eats parasites and dead cells from other fish, such as grouper. The cleaner fish gets food and the grouper avoid disease. A commensalism interaction is when one organism benefits and the other does not benefit and is not harmed. An example of a commensalism interaction is some mites attach to flies for transportation. The mites are able to move from one place to another, and the flies aren’t affected. Lastly, A parasitism interaction is when one organism benefits and the other is harmed. An example of a parasitism interaction is fleas feeding on the blood of a variety of vertebrates, such as dogs. The fleas get food, ut the dogs experience itching and discomfort.