Question

Species: cat, lizard, human

1. For each of your species, describe how their morphology and/or behavior corresponds with their environment and way of life.

2. What ecological interactions do you observe or foresee between these species and their environment? Think about both interspecific and environmental interactions.

3. If one of these species were to be suddenly removed, what impact would this have on the ecosystem? How might this affect the survival and evolution of the other species you observed? How might this affect the environment? For this question, think beyond just the direct consequences and about the subsequent (or indirect) consequences this removal may cause as well (ie. cascade of cause and effect).

Answer 1

1. The cat have an agile body with sharp canine teeth and sharp nail. It is aiding them to catch the prey such as mice and lizards. They have fur coated all around their body to protect them from cold and such. The cats are very aggressive when it comes to predation. They have sharp hearing and vision in low light and jumping ability with powerful hind legs to help them catch their prey.

The lizards are hairless organisms that lurks on the walls of mansions and houses. They have sticky hands and feet to stick to the walls. They catch their prey such as small flies by shooting out their tongue and swallowing the prey in whole. They have glue on their tongue to make the prey adhere. They have an ability to cut of their tails and escape from predators by causing a diversion. A new tail will grow back because they have regenerative ability.

The humans are the most developed species in terms of brain usage. They are buit to be omnivore. They live in societies. They have friends and family and they are warm blooded animals.they eat everything from rice to chicken and fish. They like to stay in homes to protect themselves from the harsh environment conditions. They are biped. They have dexterity with their hands to make new things from the surrounding environment to their advantage. They make weapons and survival tools. They make use of fire to cook the food and also for other purposes.

2. The cats, lizards and humans interact with each other. The cats prey on lizards often. Both lizards and cats sometimes compete for the same prey such as flies. The humans make cat their pets by feeding them and caring for them. The cats adjusts to humans as long as they don't interfere with their way of life and as long as the human gives them milk and things to satisfy their great appetite.The lizards are vary of both humans and cats and doesn't want to be friends with them. Most of the time, they pretty much adjusts with each other.

3.if lizards were to be suddenly removed, then this would affect the other species in ways beyond our imagination. The lizard's prey, that is the small flies and such will definitely overpopulate and will contribute to the annoyance of the humans. Although the cat would try to catch and eat some of these flies, it will stop if it is given better food such as milk or rats. If the cats were to be suddenly removed, the population of rats will increase nd it will be most troublesome for humans since the rats eat all the food of the humans such as stored rice, vegetables etc. The rats will also cause damage to the properties. Also the human's object of giving care and love will be gone. But the lizards would stay pretty much unaffected. If the humans were to be eliminated, then there won't be any house and walls for the lizards to lurk by placing their sticky feets to the walls. They would be left to the wild to survive. Also, there would not be any way for the cats to get milk other than from their mommy cat. The cats would also miss humans love and care.