Relationships between organisms Connections between organisms All living

Relationships between organisms

Connections between organisms • All living things on the earth are connected in some way. • This unit we will study these relationships: – – Producer/consumer/decomposer Predator/Prey Competition Symbiosis

Producer/consumer/decomposer • We’ve already learned that a producer is able to use the sun’s energy to make food. • We’ve also learned that a consumer has to get food by eating producers (herbivore) or other consumers (carnivore) or both, (omnivore).

• Producer/consumer/decompo ser Producers (autotrophs) capture the energy that all other organisms rely on to survive. • Without producers, the sun’s energy couldn’t be used by living things.

Producer/consumer/decomposer • A decomposer is an organism that breaks down waste and dead organisms. • Decomposers help to recycle nutrients. • Without decomposers, dead things would pile up, and nutrients would run out.

Producer/consumer/decomposer • Are each of these organisms a producer, consumer, or decomposer?

Consumers - Predator/Prey • An organism that kills and eats another organism for food is called a predator. • An organism that gets killed and eaten by a predator is called the prey.

Predator/Prey • Predator populations rise and fall in relation to the prey they eat. – (If there is a decrease in the amount of prey, there will soon be a decrease in the amount of predators). – (If there is an increase in the amount of prey, there will soon be an increase in the amount of predators).

Competition • Competition occurs when 2 or more organisms are both trying to use the same limited resource.

Competition • Competition could occur between producers or consumers • Competition might occur between organisms of the same species, or different species.

Competition • Competition might occur because of limited: – Food – Space – Sunlight – Mates – Or any other limited resource

Carrying capacity • The maximum amount of individuals of a certain species that an environment can support is called the carrying capacity.

Carrying capacity • Example: Eurasian Collared Doves in Cache Valley

Limiting factor • The resource that runs out when a population reaches its carrying capacity is called the limiting factor. • Limiting factors lead to competition between organisms.

Symbiosis

Our goal for today is to answer these questions: • What is symbiosis? • What are the different kinds of symbiosis? • What are some examples of symbiosis?

What is symbiosis? the act of living together

Symbiosis • Symbiosis is when two different species of organisms live closely together for an extended period of time. – “Sym” = same – “bio” = life

Symbiosis What it means: • Two organisms that live together • Temporarily or for a longer time • At least one of the organisms benefits from the relationship

What are the different kinds of symbiosis? Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism both organisms benefit one organism benefits one organism is unaffected one organism benefits one organism is harmed

Mutualism Organism One Organism Two

Commensalism Organism One Organism Two

Parasitism Organism One Organism Two

Ammensalism The “ 0 / -” symbiotic relationship

What is ammensalism? • Ammensalism is the ecological interaction in which an individual species harms another without obtaining benefit. • This type of symbiotic relationship is common, but not considered an important process structuring communities because they are “accidental” and do not benefit the species doing the harm • It is a 0/- relationship 25

Examples of Ammensalism • Elephants stepping on ants or leveling brush does not benefit the elephant but causes harm

Examples of Ammensalism • Algal blooms can lead to the death of many species of fish and other animals, however the algae do not benefit from the deaths of these individuals

Examples of Ammensalism • One of the best examples of ammensalism is the one established between humans and other species under extinction due to human actions like habitat devastation by fires, ecological accidents, pollution of water, etc.

Examples of Ammensalism • One way scientists have used ammensalism to help humans can be found in the relationship of the bread mold penicillium with bacteria. • Penicillium releases a chemical called penicillin which kills bacteria without benefiting the bread mold. • Luckily we use this secretion as medicine!

A Summary of Symbiotic Interactions Influence of Species B Influence of species A - (negative) 0 (neutral/null) + 0 + Mutualism A 0 0 B A - B + A + Parasitism A + - B Parasitism Amensalism B A Amensalism - + (positive) + 0 B Commensalism B A 0 B + Commensalism A + + Mutualism B

EXAMPLES OF SYMBIOSIS

Acacia Plant & Ants The ants lay eggs on acacia tree so they get a nice safe place for their eggs. The acacia covers the infected area with brown flesh (called a gall. ) The plant has to use valuable resources to create the gall. What symbiotic relationship is this? parasitism

Anemone & Anemone Fish This fish lives its entire adult life among the tentacles of a bulbtentacle sea anemone. Anemone fish do not get stung by the anemone as would most other fish so they get protection from predators. The fish often drop food scraps which the anemones can eat. What symbiotic relationship is this? mutualism

Boxer Crab & Anemones This Boxer Crab carries a pair of stinging anemones in its claws, which it uses to defend itself from predators. The anemones get to move around which increases their food supply. What symbiotic relationship is this? mutualism

Shark & Remora commensalism The remora attaches itself to the shark and saves energy since it doesn’t have to swim, and it gets to snack on the sharks kills. The shark doesn’t get anything. What symbiotic relationship is this?

Emperor Shrimp & Sea Cucumber This tiny emperor shrimp is riding along on the back of a sea cucumber (a long wormlike starfish relative) while it crawls along a sandy bottom. The shrimp gets to travel around under the protection of its much larger partner, and the sea cucumber doesn't seem to mind. What symbiotic relationship is this? commensalism

Moray Eel & Cleaner Fish This moray eel has a small fish cleaning between its teeth. The eel gets a clean mouth while the cleaner fish gets a nice meal. mutualism What symbiotic relationship is this?

Cattle & Cattle Egrets As these cattle walk around eating grass they stir up lots of insects. The egrets hang around and get a yummy meal of insects. What symbiotic relationship is this? commensalism

Clown Fish & Anemone This clown fish swims in the anemone and gets protection, since its predators will get stung. The anemone is unaffected. commensalism What symbiotic relationship is this?

Antelope & Ox Bird This ox bird hangs out on the antelope and gets a delicious meal of bugs living on the antelope. The antelope gets rid of parasites. What symbiotic relationship is this? mutualism

Loa Worm & Human This worm infects human the blood stream and gets a nice warm safe home there. The human may go blind or have other complications as a result. What symbiotic relationship is this? parasitism

Goby and Alpheid Shrimp This alpheid shrimp (on the right) uses its strong claws like a bulldozer to create a burrow in the sand. The shrimp is nearly blind. It relies upon its partner, the sharp-eyed goby, to warn of danger. When a potential predator approaches, both animals disappear quickly into the burrow mutualism What symbiotic relationship is this?

Wrasse & Batfish Can you see the two cleaner wrasses are removing parasites from a batfish? One of the wrasses has entered the gill slit of the batfish, and may even enter its mouth in search of food. The batfish gets a bath and the wrasse gets a meal. What symbiotic relationship is this? mutualism

Hummingbird Moth & Flower mutualism This hummingbird moth is drinking the nectar of a flower. The flower gets pollinated (the moth brings pollen from other flowers) and the moth gets a tasty meal. What symbiotic relationship is this?

Symbiosis - ? • Why don’t we have a word for a relationship where both organisms are harmed by the relationship?

Let’s Review Answer each of following questions on a sheet of lined paper. 1. What is symbiosis? 2. What are the different kinds of symbiosis? 3. Describe one example of each kind of symbiotic relationship.