Saint Joseph Convent School - English Programme

Basic Biology

Name: Ni chap off _______ ________ Class: 07713

_____ #: 23

Community Interactions
1. What is meant by the term ‘niche’ in ecosystems?

to their habitat
Niche is how the species interact differently .

2. Explain the difference between interspecific and intraspecific competition.

Interspecific competition is the competition
among different species,
but intraspecific
is the competition among the same species .

3. Explain the meanings of the terms mutualism and commensalism and describe how they
differ in their effects on the interacting populations of two species.

Mutualism is when both of the species benefits from the relationship .

of them benefits while the other is not harmed

Commensalism is when one
.

4. Monarch butterflies are protected from birds and other predators because of chemicals
they incorporate into their tissues from eating milkweed when they were in their
caterpillar stage. The wings of a different species of butterfly (the Viceroy) look nearly
identical to the Monarch, and are also unpalatable, so predators have learned avoid
Viceroys as well. This example best describes:
A) aposmatic colouration.
B) cryptic colouration.
C) Batesian mimicry.
D) Müllerian mimicry.
E) mutualism. Answer: __
C

5. Which of the following is an example of aposematic colouration?

A) stripes of a poisonous coral snake
B) eye colour in humans
C) green colour of a plant
D) colours of an insect-pollinated flower
E) an insect whose wings look like a dead leaf A
Answer: __

6. Which statement best describes the evolutionary significance of mutualism?

A) Mutualism offers more biodiversity to a community.
B) Individuals partaking in a mutualistic relationship are more resistant to parasites.
C) Interaction increases the survival and reproductive rates of mutualistic species.
D) Mutualistic interaction lessens competition in communities where it is present.
E) Mutualistic relationships allow organisms to synthesize and use energy more
efficiently.
Answer: __ C
7. As you study two closely related predatory insect species, the two-spot and the three-spot
avenger beetles, you notice that each species looks for prey in the morning in areas
without the other species. However, where they live in the same habitat, the two-spot
avenger beetle searches for prey at night and the three-spot looks in the morning. When
you bring them into the laboratory and isolate the two different species, you discover
that the offspring of both species are found to favour searching for food at night. You
have discovered an example of
A) mutualism.
B) Müllerian mimicry.
C) Batesian mimicry.
D) commensalism.
E) resource partitioning. Answer: __
E

8. Why do you think that most parasites don t kill their host?
kill
Because the hosts try to defend themselves with their immune system . so the parasite can 't .

9. Generally, how are endoparasites and ectoparasites different?

outside and feed
Endoparasite lives within the host 's body , but ectoparasites live on external surface .

10. According to the principle of competitive exclusion, what outcome is expected when
two species with identical niches compete for a resource? Why?
The outcome expected is one of them need to be eliminated , because they share the
same

resource ,
so the resources might not be enough .