AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Introduction to Ecosystems
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What are the three main types of symbiosis?
The three main types of symbiosis are mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
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What are the three main types of symbiosis?
The three main types of symbiosis are mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
How does the availability of resources influence species interactions?
The availability of resources is a critical factor; when resources are limited, it often leads to increased competition among organisms.
What is symbiosis?
Symbiosis is a close and long-term interaction between two different species within an ecosystem.
If two bird species evolve to eat insects from different parts of the same tree to avoid direct conflict, what ecological concept does this demonstrate?
This demonstrates resource partitioning, which reduces competition and allows both species to coexist.
A tapeworm lives in the intestines of a mammal, absorbing its nutrients. Which type of symbiosis does this represent?
This represents parasitism, a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other.
What is the primary cause of competition in an ecosystem?
Competition occurs within or between species in an ecosystem primarily because there are limited resources.
What is resource partitioning?
Resource partitioning is a strategy that reduces the negative impact of competition by allowing species to share resources in different ways.
What types of groups can experience competition?
Competition can occur both within a single species (intraspecific) and between different species (interspecific) in an ecosystem.
Define a predator-prey relationship.
A predator-prey relationship is one where a predator organism eats another organism, known as the prey.
A barnacle attaches to a whale, gaining a place to live and filter-feed, while the whale is unaffected. What type of symbiotic relationship is this?
This is an example of commensalism, where one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.