Module 9S1 Ecological Interactions

Lesson 4.9.2S1

Lesson 2—The Role of Defense

Get Focused

On your hike into the backcountry of Banff National Park, remember that each species you see is a winner; a species that has out-competed all others that have attempted to share its niche. The grizzly bear’s behavioral defenses are easy to spot: Standing up on the hind legs and hair standing up on end make it appear larger and more fearsome. Baring of teeth, growling, laying back of ears and mock-charging all indicate danger to would-be competitors or predators. What other kinds of defenses do organisms use to protect themselves from other competitors or from being consumed, thus protecting their alleles from elimination?

By the end of this lesson you should be able to answer the following focusing question:

• What are the defense mechanisms within predation and competition?

Module 9: Section 1—Lesson 2 Assignment

Once you have completed all of the learning activities for this lesson, you can complete the online assignment.

Bio30 4.9.2S1 online assignment

You must decide what to do with the questions that are not marked by the teacher. Remember that these questions provide you with the practice and feedback that you need to successfully complete this course. You should record the answers to all of the questions and place those answers in your course folder.