Our Lady of Mercy School

Name: ______________________________________________________________ Date: ________

Subject:_____________________ Class:______ Teacher:_____________ Grade: _______

Patterns of Interactions Worksheet

The goal of this activity is to explore and explain different patterns of interactions among organisms
across multiple ecosystems.

1. (MUST) Which statement describes a difference between predators and prey? Choose the correct
answer.

a. Prey are types of plants, whereas predators are types of animals.

b. Prey remain in one place, but predators move around within the ecosystem.
c. Prey get energy only from plant materials, and predators eat only animals.
d. Prey are hunted for food, and predators capture and eat other animals to get energy.

2. (MUST) Grizzly bears' diets consist of roots, tubers, berries, nuts, fungi, insects, rodents, and fish.
What ecological role best describes grizzly bears? Choose the correct answer.

a. producers
b. carnivores
c. omnivores
d. herbivores

3. (MUST) Classify the organisms according to their

trophic level in the food chain (producer, primary
consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer,
decomposer).
4. (MUST) A student is studying interactions between organisms in a food web. She wonders what could
happen in a prairie ecosystem if foxes suddenly disappeared. Which of these is the best answer to
her question? Choose the correct answer.

a. If foxes disappear, all other populations will grow.

b. If foxes disappear, all other populations will shrink.
c. If foxes disappear, the population of an organism that feeds on foxes will likely grow.
d. If foxes disappear, the population of an organism on which foxes feed will likely grow.

5. (MUST) Match the terms that describes a form of ecological relationship (first column) with their
respective definition (second column). This list includes six fundamental concepts (a-f), while the next
question features some more specific ones (g-m). Write the corresponding letter inside the brackets.

a. Predation ( ) a relationship in which one benefits at the expense of the other, sometimes
without killing the host organism, but harming it.

b. Competition ( ) a relationship between two organisms of different species in which one is

benefitted while the other is mostly unaffected.

c. Symbiosis ( ) a relationship in which two organisms both mutually benefit from.

d. Mutualism ( ) when an organism consumes another organism or part of another organism.

e. Commensalism ( ) a relationship in which two different organisms live in close association with
each other.

f. Parasitism ( ) ecological relationship in which two or more organisms depend on the same
limited resource.

6. (OPTIONAL) Match these other following terms that describe forms of ecological relationships:

g. Epiphytism ( ) association between organisms of two different species in which one is

inhibited or destroyed and the other is mostly unaffected.

h. Neutralism ( ) association of organisms in groups, which may include cooperative care of

young, overlapping generations, division of labor, and physical characteristics.

i. Amensalism ( ) the dispersal of plant seeds by animals, which may happen, for example, by
sticking on the fur, or elimination after ingestion.

j. Pollination ( ) transfer of pollen grains from one flower to another.

k. Zoochory ( ) a type of relationship between two living organisms in which one organism
benefits from the other without harming or helping it.

l. Colonies ( ) several individual organisms (especially of the same species) living together in
close association.

m. Sociality ( ) any plant that grows upon another plant or object merely for physical support.
 7. Research the following examples of ecological relationships and:
a. (MUST) Classify them using the concepts listed in the previous question.
b. (MUST) Describe what is happening in the situation, and how they benefit - or not - from this
relationship regarding resources and services provided.
c. (CHALLENGE) Research 1 or 2 other examples of ecological relationships.

Stag Beetles fighting

Fern and moss on treetrunk

Termites in a nest

Microhylid frog and Tarantula

Zooxanthellae and Corals

Wasp and Caterpillar

Portuguese man o' war

Remora fish and Shark