Relationships in the Ecosystem

There are many complex relationships in an ecosystem There are many complex relationships in an ecosystem. Changes in one lead to changes in the population of another.

Predator Prey Relationships Predator - Animals that actively hunt other animals. Prey - The hunted organisms upon which a predator feeds.

II. Types of Interaction No Interaction - (Except in the broadest sense) Examples: Orchids in the rainforest Bluegills and cattails in the pond B. Predation (predator-prey relationships) There are 3 main types!

II. Types of Interaction - Predation Generalist - Eats a wide variety of foods Examples: Humans Bears Racoons Seagull Crow Fox

II. Types of Interaction - Predation 2. Restricted - Picky - Food only found in one area. Examples: Fish (some types) Bald Eagles (Eat large fish) Osprey and peregrine falcon

II. Types of Interaction - Predation 3. Specialist - Animals that eat only one type of food Examples: Koala Panda Everglades Kite Kirtland's Warbler (lives in tree Jack Pine) Most prone to extinction due to habitat destruction

III. Defense Chemical Skunk - Odor Weasels - Musk Gland Snakes, Octopus, squid Poison Cobra, Frogs, Stingray, Salamanders, Jellyfish, Komodo Dragon

III. Defense C. Electricity Electric Eel D. Body Shape Puffer fish, frilled lizard, toads & frogs

III. Defense E. Spines Porcupine, Fish, lizards F. Scales Some fish, snakes, armadillo

III. Defense G. Shells Turtle, clams, crayfish, oysters, shrimp, snails, mollusks H. Camouflage Chameleon, snakes, zebra, butterfly, tree frogs

III. Defense Adaptations Speed, ability to climb, trees, jumping, losing tail, teeth, beaks, maneuverability

IV. Intraspecific Competition Intraspecific competition - between the same species. Different sized organisms eat different sized prey. Example: Largemouth bass: same size fish

IV. Intraspecific Competition B. Different sexes feed differently Example: Mosquitoes: Females feed on blood from mammals for proteins for babies, males are herbivores

IV. Intraspecific Competition C. Different ages feed differently Example: Humans Tadpoles eat algae and frogs eat insects

V. Symbiosis Commensalism - one benefits, the other is unaffected Examples: Remora fish + Sharks Fish get a free ride and scraps from sharks meals Epiphytes + Tree Air plant gets sunlight and water Humans + flies, racoons, seagulls, rats

V. Symbiosis B. Mutualism - both benefit Examples: Tick bird + Rhino Rhino gets clean and tick bird gets food Termite + Protozoa Protozoa live in the intestines of the termite and allows it to digest wood for food Flowering plants + Bees Bees get food and flowers get pollinated Sloth + Algae Algae get a warm place to live and the sloth gets camouflage for the trees

V. Symbiosis C. Parasitism - One benefits and the other is harmed. Examples: Ectoparasites - On the outside of body/hosts. The key is to get nutrients without... Killing the hosts - fleas, tick, ringworm, leach Endoparasites - Live inside body of host. Most animals in the wild have some type of internal parasite. They are more common in humans in 3rd world countries. Heartworm, tapeworm, hookworm, bacteria