Download Species and Species interactions

SPECIES AND SPECIES
INTERACTIONS
Can’t we all just get along?
OBJECTIVE
SWBAT describe the levels of
organization in nature, define
“species” and niche, as well as
elaborate on the various types
of species interactions.
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How we came to have the current
nomenclature.
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Humans have always endeavored to classify the natural
world and make useful sense of arrangement and
relationships.
Prior to the work of Carolus Linnaeus, organisms were
classified in a multitude of ways that were not
systematically developed and maintained.
In 1735, Linnaeus released his work in a book titled
Systema Naturae.
In this book, Linnaeus outlined a method of grouping
things in a methodical and organized way.
This method is called binomial nomenclature and the
names used are Genus and species.
From the broad to the narrow
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Genus refers to the general characteristics
displayed by an organism (color, size, habitat, etc.).
Species refers to the more specific characteristics
displayed, and often is used to honor the person
responsible for identification.
Genus is capitalized and species is not.
When typed, the two words are italicized.
When hand-written, the two words are underlined.
Linnaeus expands his system
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Linnaeus grouped nature into 3 kingdoms – mineral,
vegetable, and animal.
As more organisms were added to the vegetable and
animal kingdoms, the need arose to further distinguish
one from another.
To accomplish this, Linnaeus added variety as a
subgroup of species, as well as class and order above
Genus.
The two kingdoms of organisms, vegetable and animal
were expanded in subsequent years to include
additional discoveries which did not fit neatly into the
existing framework.
Expanding the scope
Linnaeus
Haeckel
Chatton
Copeland
Whittaker
Woese
CavalierSmith
1735
1866
1925
1938
1969
1990
1998
2 Kingdoms
3 Kingdoms
2 Empires
4 Kingdoms
5 Kingdoms
3 Domains
6 Kingdoms
Archaea
Archebacteria
Prokaryota
Eukaryota
Monera
Monera
Bacteria
Eubacteria
Protista
Protista
Eukarya
Protista
Protista
Animalia
Animalia
Animalia
Animalia
Animalia
Plantae
Plantae
Plantae
Vegetabilia
Plantae
Fungii
Fungii
Taxonomic Classification
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Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Mammalia
Order - Primates
Family - Hominidae
Genus - Homo
Species - sapiens
Niche
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Niche is defined as the role a species plays in an
ecosystem. This involves everything the organism does
to survive and reproduce.
The Fundamental niche is the full potential an organism
is capable of, under ideal circumstances.
The Realized niche is what an organism actually
accomplishes due to limiting factors.
Limiting factors are things like competition, predation,
illness, disease, and other environmental factors.
Let’s identify your fundamental niche, realized niche,
and your limiting factors.
Species in an ecosystem
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Native species are indigenous to an area
and, generally, well adapted to survive
given climatic factors.
Non-native, introduced, invasive, exotic,
and alien species are often brought into
an area and they have been known to
disrupt the ecosystem, sometimes with
catastrophic results.
Crassostrea virginica is the native oyster
found in the Chesapeake Bay. Currently,
it is at dangerously low population levels
due to overharvesting and disease.
Crassostrea ariakensis has been
identified as a possible replacement to
the native oyster. Concern has been
raised about how it may impact the
entire Bay ecosystem.
Roles of species
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Indicator species – illustrate damage to the ecosystem.
Songbird populations are the first to dwindle when
forests are removed. Trout populations indicate
damage done to freshwater streams.
Trout prefer cold, highly oxygenated water. What
happens to water when we dam it?
Keystone species – their niche is larger than would be
expected based on their abundance or biomass. A
classic example is the lowly dung beetle.
Were it not for the movement of nutrients in dung by
these organisms, entire eco-systems would collapse.
Breeding
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Intra-specific breeding is the result of two organisms of
the same species. The resultant offspring is an member
of the same species as the parents.
Inter-specific breeding is the result of two organisms of
differing species. The resultant is called a hybrid and
displays, to varying degrees, attributes of both parents.
A male donkey and a female horse may produce a
mule. The offspring of the opposite combination is a
hinny and is far less common.
Typically, a hybrid is sterile. But, recent cases
demonstrate this is not always the case.
Other Examples of Hybrids
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Zebroid
Wholphin
Killer bee
Chemical Messages
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Organisms use hormones to regulate internal conditions.
Typically, these processes involve a negative feedback
loop.
Hormones are chemical messages which stay inside an
organism’s body.
Many organisms utilize pheromones to attract a
potential mate.
Pheromones are chemical messages which are released
from an organism’s body.
Pheromones are specific to a species, and other species
do not respond to their effect.
Trophic Levels
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Producers – Autotrophs, utilize light (or chemical)
energy to create macromolecules, use these
macromolecules for their own needs as well as provide
them for other trophic levels.
Consumers – Heterotrophs, consume other organisms to
avail themselves of energy
Primary – Herbivores, consume only plant material
 Secondary – Omnivores, typically consume both plant
material and primary consumers
 Tertiary – Carnivores, typically consume only other
consumers
 Why are there rarely, if ever, quaternary consumers?
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Trophic Levels (cont.)
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Scavengers – feed on the remains of organisms
killed by others, in essence, they steal their food
Detritovores – organisms which feed on the
decaying material and of dead organisms or feces,
a good example would be earthworms
Decomposers/Saprotrophs – organisms which
complete the breakdown (decomposition) of organic
material, they often absorb nutrients, rather than
consume them, examples include bacteria and fungii
Pyramid of Numbers
Pyramid of Numbers (cont.)
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Sometimes, the pyramid shape is not truly
applicable.
Pyramid of Biomass
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Biomass is the mass of the biological organisms
living in an ecosystem at any given time.
Pyramid of Energy
So, where should we feed?
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Energetically, it makes 10x more sense to feed at
the primary consumer level.
Most humans in developing nations tend toward a
herbivorous diet.
However, humans in developed nations have
increasingly turned to meat as an energy source.
So, why do we tend toward more of a carnivorous
diet?
Inter-specific competition and Predation
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Interference competition occurs when one species limits
the ability of another species access to a resource.
Hummingbirds are known to aggressively chase off
other bird species from flowers.
Exploitation competition occurs when one species is
more efficient in exploiting an equally available
resource. Lions and cheetahs often compete for
gazelles on the African plain, with lions, generally,
being faster.
Predation occurs when one species (predator) feeds
directly on all or part of an organism of a differing
species. Multitudes of examples come to mind.
Defenses against predation
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Camouflage – an appearance which
allows an organism to blend in with its
surroundings.
Chemical warfare – an organism is
protected by a chemical it produces
which discourages predators.
Warning coloration – many bad-smelling,
bad-tasting organisms have survived with
bright coloration which, otherwise, would
make them likely prey.
Mimicry – enjoying the benefit of
resembling a distasteful or toxic
organism.
Physical displays – making itself appear
to be larger and more threatening is
often employed as a defense.
Symbiotic relationships
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Mutualism – (+,+) both organisms benefit from
being participants in the relationship. Plants and
pollinators are a great example.
Commensalism – (+, 0) one organism benefits and
the other is (seemingly) unaffected. Clownfish and
sea anemone.
Parasitism – (+, -) one organism benefits and the
other is harmed. Parasitic wasps and tapeworms.