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Student I.D.
Name: _________________________
Class: __________
Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Types of Interactions
1. In your own words, write a definition for the term carrying
capacity.
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2. Use each of the following terms in a separate sentence: mutualism, commensalism, and
parasitism.
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3. Which of the following is NOT a prey adaptation?
a. camouflage
c. warning coloration
b. chemical defenses
d. parasitism
4. Identify two things organisms compete with one another for.
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5. Briefly describe one example of a predator-prey relationship. Identify the predator and the
prey.____________________________________________________________________
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Symbiotic Relationships
In the space provided, indicate whether each of the following symbiotic relationships is an
example of mutualism (M), commensalism (C), or parasitism (P).
_____ 6. Clownfish live among the venomous tentacles of a sea anemone. They are protected
from predators, and they keep the sea anemone clean.
_____ 7. Barnacles attach themselves to the shells of crabs. The barnacles receive a home. The
crab is unaffected.
_____ 8. Bees use flower nectar for food, and they carry flower pollen to other flowers,
allowing the flower to reproduce.
_____ 9. Dutch elm disease is caused by a fungus that grows and feeds on elm trees. The
fungus destroys the trees.
_____ 10. Orchids grow in tree branches. They receive light, and their roots get water from
the air. The tree is not affected.
_____ 11. Small mites live on your skin, eating dead skin cells. You don’t even notice.
_____ 12. Lichens are composed of a fungus and an alga. The alga makes food through
photosynthesis. The fungus absorbs water and minerals from the environment. The food and
water are used by both the fungus and the alga.
_____ 13. Tapeworms live in the intestines of cats and absorb nutrients from the food the cats
eat. The cats do not get enough nutrients.
A Struggle to Survive
While watching the nightly news, you hear this report:
Rosa: Bob Wilder has an update on Florida’s state mammal, the endangered Florida panther.
Bob: Rosa, at one time there were as few as 30 to 50 adult panthers in the state. Their
numbers are no longer dropping, but the panthers still face many problems, such as being hit by
cars and losing their habitat to development. As the habitat has gotten smaller, Florida
panthers have become separated from other panther populations. As a result the gene pool is
shrinking, and their health problems have increased.
Rosa: What is being done about the problem, Bob?
Bob: One recent plan involved moving a few Texas panthers into the Florida panther range. The
Texas and Florida packs actually shared the range long ago. We know that members of these
two groups have bred successfully. The crossbred cubs will have a reduced chance of inheriting
health problems often suffered by Florida panthers. The Texas panthers will increase the gene
pool, which scientists hope will improve the health of panthers in Florida.
Useful Terms
gene pool the total number of genes in a population at any one time
range the region to which a plant or animal is native
crossbred bred from different varieties or breeds
niche the role of an organism in a community
Predicting Consequences
14. How might the addition of Texas panthers affect the Florida panther’s niche?
Helpful Hint
Think about the behavior of panthers in terms of territory, mating, and prey.
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15. Why is it important to keep the numbers of individuals in an endangered population from
dropping too low?__________________________________________________________
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Brainstorming Solutions
4.
Biologists have already tried many solutions to the panther problem. Here is your
chance to think like a biologist. The left column of the chart contains problems that Florida
panthers face. Brainstorm two solutions for each problem, and write the solutions in the right
column.
Problems
habitat loss
Pollution
collisions with automobiles
Florida Panther Solutions
Possible solutions