Relationships in Ecosystems

1. Relationships in Ecosystems • Number your paper 1 – 17. • For each statement write the word from the word bank that best describes the relationship.

2. 1. Vultures gather around a dead deer. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavenger population community predation competition producer food chain decomposer parasitism organism

3. 2. Camels, cacti, sagebrush, lizards, snakes and insects all live together in a section of the desert. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavenger population community predation competition organism food chain decomposer parasitism habitat

4. 3. A tick feeds on your dog. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavenger population community predation competition producer food chain decomposer parasitism community

5. 4. Beetles and termites want to break down the dead material in the same spot on the same dead tree. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavenger population community predation competition producer food chain decomposer parasitism organism

6. 5. Mice feed on acorns; owls feed on mice. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavenger population community predator-prey competition organism food chain decomposer parasitism producer

7. 6. A pond frog catches a nice fly on his sticky tongue. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavenger population community predation competition food chain decomposer habitat parasitism producer

8. 7. The dandelions and your lawn are trying to grow in the same space. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavenger population community predator-prey competition food chain decomposer consumer parasitism

9. 8. Mule deer live in the forest behind my house. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavengers population community predator-prey competition food chain decomposer parasitism scavenger

10. 9. A bacteria causes your throat to be sore. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavengers population community predator-prey competition food chain decomposer parasitism scavenger

11. 10. An orchid attaches itself to a tree branch without doing the tree any harm. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavengers population community predator-prey competition food chain decomposer parasitism scavenger

12. 11. A poisonous sea anemone gives protection to a fish, but feeds on the predators that come after it. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavengers population community predator-prey competition food chain decomposer parasitism scavenger

13. 12. A mountain lion stalks a young deer. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavengers population community predator-prey competition food chain decomposer parasitism scavenger

14. 13. A fungus grows on a rotting log. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavengers population community predator-prey competition food chain decomposer parasitism scavenger

15. 14. Ants crawl all over a dead worm. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavengers population community predator-prey competition food chain decomposer parasitism scavenger

16. 15. Some bacteria live and get their nourishment inside your intestines, and help keep them healthy. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavengers population community predator-prey competition food chain decomposer parasitism scavenger

17. 16. Weeds and young corn plants try to grow in the same garden. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavengers population community predator-prey competition food chain decomposer parasitism scavenger

18. 17. A spider traps a fat fly in her web. WORD BANK: commensalism mutualism scavengers population community predator-prey competition food chain decomposer parasitism scavenger

19. Answer Key • Scavengers 9. Parasitism • Community 10. commensalism • Parasitism 11. Mutualism • Competition 12. Predator-Prey • Food Chain 13. Decomposer • Predator-Prey 14. Scavengers • Competition 15. Mutualism • Population 16. Competition 17. Predator-Prey