Ecological Relationships Page 4 Interpret relationships including predation

Ecological Relationships (Page #4) Interpret relationships, including predation, parasitism, commensalism, mutualism, and competition among organisms

Ecology: the study of 1. Organisms 2. Environment 3. and their Interactions

Biotic Factors— • Living organisms Abiotic Factors– • Non-living • Physical aspects (water, air, rocks, heat, light, altitude etc).

Quick Write: • Give an example of how abiotic factors determine the biotic factors that exist in an ecosystem? Explain.

Competition: • Two species compete for the same resource. • Food, nesting sites, living space, light, mineral nutrients, water

Predation: + X • The act of one organism killing another food (lions and zebras, spiders and flies, great grandma and chickens).

Symbiosis • A close, long-term ecological relationship between two or more species. • These relationships are essential to the balance of nature. They occur all around us and in us. • Come up with one example

Parasitism: +- • One organism feeds on and usually lives on or in another (Eventually harmful to host).

Mutualism: ++ • Beneficial to both species • Ants protect the aphids and the aphids feed the ants.

Commensalism • Beneficial to one species but does not harm or benefit the other species. • While grazing, cattle dredge up the soil as nearby egrets feed on the newly exposed insects. The cattle are unaffected but the egrets get easier access to a food resource. +0

Bell-Ringer (Complete on Page 3) • Juvenile fish swim around jellyfish for a safe haven from potential predators. What type of ecological relationship is this?

Fictional Ecological Relationships #5 • Fold paper into 3 sections. • Create Three Mini-Posters--one for each type of symbiosis (parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism). • For each poster, create two fictional organisms. • Each poster will illustrate how these two organisms live together. • Include title, 4 colors, sketch, and brief explanation of relationship.