Ecological Relationships Ms Blalock Ms Hartsell Directions Use

Ecological Relationships Ms. Blalock, Ms. Hartsell

Directions • Use the information in this Power. Point presentation to respond to questions in your guided notes.

Symbiosis • A close and often long term interaction between two or more different species. • The relationship between these different species may be neutral, negative or positive. • There are 4 types of symbiotic relationships we will explore today – – Predation Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism

Predation • Predation refers to one organism capturing and feeding on another organism • Organism Roles – Predator: the organism that is doing the killing – Prey: the organism that is being eaten (food)

Predation Example Lions eating a buffalo Predator: Lion Prey: buffalo Snake eating a frog Predator: snake Prey: frog

Mutualism • Both species in this type of relationship benefit from the interactions that they share • It is a “WIN-WIN” situation

Example: Mutualism • Insects and flowers – Insect: gets nectar and food from flower – Flower: the insect spreads the pollen or seeds of the flower so it can continue to reproduce

Commensalism • One organism in the relationship benefits and the other organism is neither helped nor harmed • It is a “WIN-nothing” situation

Example: Commensalism • Barnacles attach to the surface (skin) of whales – Barnacles: get nutrients from the whale that allow it to grow – Whale: the presence of the barnacles neither harms or benefits the whale in any way

Parasitism • One organism lives on or inside of another organism and harms it – Parasite: the organism doing the harm – Host: the other organism that is being harmed • The parasite obtains all or part of its nutrition from the host • It is a “WIN-LOSE” situation

Example: Parasitism • Ticks attach to dogs and suck the blood from them – Ticks: get nutrients from the blood of the dog – Dog: can get sick from diseases the tick may carry or can die from blood loss; discomfort (causing irritation to the skin)