Interaction between living Things

1. Adapting to the environment Natural selection: process where a characteristic that makes an individual better suited to their environment becomes common. Adaptation: behavior and/or physical characteristic that allows an organism to live successfully Ex. Penguin, cheetah, finches

2. Competition: struggle between organisms to survive and obtain a limited resource. Ex. Warblers in pine

3. Predation Interaction in which an organism kills another for food Predation can greatly effect population size Too many predators causes a decrease in prey population which then causes a decrease in predators. Predators/prey populations rise and fall in cycles

Predators have adapted to become better and more efficient Ex. Hunting at night, speed, eyes in the front of their head

Prey have also adapted to avoid being eaten Mimicry False coloring Warning colors Camouflage

Symbiosis

Symbiosis – relationship between 2 species that benefits at least one of them

Mutualism – a relationship in which both species benefit Ex. Rhinoceros and tick bird Ex. Bee and flower Ex. Crocodile and plover

Ex. Birds nesting in trees Ex. Whale and barnacle Commensalism – a relationship in which one species benefits and the other in neither helped or harmed Ex. Birds nesting in trees Ex. Whale and barnacle Ex. Clown fish and sea anemone  

  Parasitism – a relationship in which one species benefits and the other is harmed Parasite – organism that benefits Host – organism that is harmed Parasite usually live inside or on the host Parasites usually do not kill their hosts. WHY? Ex. fleas. ticks, leeches, tape worms