Ecological Interactions

ENGAGEMENT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YKAalZAqO4

As you watch the youtube video, describe how the Rhino and Bird interact with one another

Also, jot down any new vocabulary terms that are introduced in the video

KEY CONCEPT

COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS – When organisms live together in communities, they interact constantly

Competition, Predation and Symbiosis are all ways that organisms interact.

Competition

Competition-two organisms fight for the same limited resources

Example 1: In a lawn, grass and weeds all compete for the same resources (space/sunlight)

Predation

Predation-when one organism captures and eats another organism

Example 1: Snakes are predators that swallow their prey (rats) whole

Symbiosis

Symbiosis-a close relationship between two or more organisms of different species that live closely together

Three types:1. Mutualism2. Commensalism3. Parasitism

Mutualism

Mutualism-both organisms benefit from each other

Example 1: Eel gets teeth cleaned by

shrimp. Shrimp gets food from the eel’s teeth.

Organism 1 Organism 2

Mutualism

OPEN WIDE: A cleaner shrimp reaches into a moray eel's mouth. The shrimp uses its claws to pick stuff off the eel's body. That can include dead skin, tiny pieces of food, and even little creatures that can hurt the fish.

Mutualism

Example 2:Bats get food from the flower. Seeds come out in bat poop.

Commensalism

Commensalism—one organism benefits from

the relationship, while the other is not affected.

Example 1: Remora shark sticks to a whale shark, waiting for food and getting a ride. The whale shark is not affected.

Organism 1 Organism 2

http://www.fotosearch.com/UNF311/u23190832/

Commensalism

Example 2: Mites benefit by finding a home in human eyelashes. Humans are not affected by the mites.

More examples of Commensalism

Clownfish hide in poisonous sea anemones which protect them from

larger fish. The clownfish benefit, and nothing happens to the sea anemones.

Parasitism

Parasitism—The parasite benefits by

keeping the host alive for days or years. The host is harmed by the parasite.

Example 1: Female mosquitoes feast on human blood

Organism 1 Organism 2

Parasitism

Parasitism

Example 2: Wasp larvae feed on a hornworm caterpillar. The hornworm caterpillar will eventually die.

CFUs (CHECK FOR

UNDERSTANDING!)

What type of interaction is this?

The coral reef and the algae exist in a mutualistic relationship. They supply food and shelter for each

other.

What type of interaction is this?

This bird, called an egret rides on the back of large

mammals like elephants. The egret benefits

because it gets a place to live, and

the elephant doesn’t care

because it does not benefit or

become harmed by the

relationship.

What type of interaction is this?

What type of interaction is this?