5
QuizMultiple Choice

Lab: Interdependence of Organisms

Question 5 • CA-Life Science B (High School)

Interactions between organisms and their environment impact the organism’s overall population. Zebra mussels are not native North America; they were brought here by ships travelling from Europe. They reproduce quickly and filter out plankton from the water reducing food for native fish. Native fish populations have started to decline. Which concept shows the relationship between zebra mussels and native fish?

Answer
a
adaptation principle
c
competitive exclusion principle
n
niche relationship
p
predator-prey relationship

Explanation

Zebra mussels and native fish rely on plankton as food, so they compete for the same limited resource. As the mussels filter out plankton, less food is available to the fish, whose populations decline. This illustrates the competitive exclusion principle, not a predator-prey relationship, because the mussels are not eating the fish.

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