Download Interactions Among Organisms

Interactions Among
Organisms
What is Ecology?

Ecology is the study of organisms and the living
and non-living parts of their environment.

There are many levels of organization in ecology.
They are:





The Biosphere – All the area on the surface of earth and in
the atmosphere that supports life.
Ecosystem – A group of organisms living together and the
environment around them.
Community – All of the interacting populations in an area
Population – All of the organisms of the same species living
in an area
Organism – A single living thing
Abiotic vs. Biotic Factors

Abiotic Factors are
all of the non-living
components of the
ecosystem.

Examples would be:
1.
2.
3.
Water
Climate
Soil

Biotic Factors are all
of the living
components of the
ecosystem.

Examples would be:
1.
2.
3.
Plants
Insects
Larger animals
Which level is it?


Identify the level of
ecological
organization
represented by each
picture.
A herd of buffalo.
Which level is it?

All of the living and
non-living items in a
pond
Which level is it?

All of the animal
populations living on
the African savannah.
Habitat

The habitat is the place
where an organism lives
out its life.


It is where the organism
finds food, shelter and
mates.
Several species can live in
the same habitat but will
use the resources in
different ways.
Niche

A niche is all strategies
and adaptations a
species uses in its
environment.


This is how organisms
obtain food, mates and
protection from
predators.
No two species can occupy
the same niche long (one
species will go extinct).
http://www.tycho.dk/ezimagecatalogue/catalogue/variations/1150-250x250.jpg
Ecological Relationships

Ecological Relationships can be classified
as either symbiosis or predation.


A symbiosis is a close, permanent
relationship between two different types of
organisms.
There are three types of symbiosis:
1.
2.
3.
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
Mutualism

In mutualism, both
organisms benefit from
one another.

For example: A clownfish
and a sea anemone have a
mutualistic relationship.
The fish is protected by the
anemone and the anemone
receives scraps of food
from the clownfish.
Commensalism


In commensalism, one organism benefits
from the other. The other organism is
neither helped nor harmed.
This is usually a relationship between a
small organism and a larger organism
where the smaller organism benefits.

The benefit is usually shelter,
transportation, defense, or food.
Commensalism

An example is the
relationship of the
remora and the shark.
The remora receives
food in the form of
scraps that come
from the shark, but
the shark is
unaffected.
Parasitism

In parasitism, one
organism benefits and
the other is harmed.


The organism that
benefits is called the
parasite
The organism that is
harmed is called the
host
Parasitism

Tapeworms and
liver flukes are
examples of parasites
that live in the bodies
of other organisms
(endoparasites).
They feed off the host
and cause disease.
Summary of Symbiotic
Relationships
Relationship
Organism 1
Organism 2
Mutualism


Commensalism


Parasitism


Predation

In predation, one
organism, the
predator, kills and
eats another, the
prey.

The relationship of
predator and prey is
essential to keeping
populations of both
animals at normal
levels.
Which relationship is it?

An American Robin
builds a nest in a Red
Maple tree
Which relationship is it?

A tick makes its home
on a White-tailed
Deer
Which relationship is it?

A Nile crocodile will
open its mouth and
allow the Egyptian
plover to feed on any
leeches that are
attached to its gums
Which relationship is it?

A Red Fox hunts and
consumes a Black Rat
Snake
Which relationship is it?

A certain type of
paramecium engulfs
unicellular green algae
into vacuoles within its
cell. The algae are
allowed to utilize carbon
dioxide produced by the
paramecium and the
paramecium is able to
utilize food produced by
the algae