How species interact with each other Ecology Part 2 How species interact with each other

Interactions 5 types of species interactions Predation Competition Parasitism Mutualism commensalism

Predation One organism kills and eats the other organism The organism that is eaten is called the prey

Predator- the one that does the eating

Familiar examples Lions feeding on zebras Cougars eating deer Snakes eating mice Blue whale – the largest animal on earth- feeds on small krill ( shrimplike marine animals)

Blue Whale Also a predator because it feeds on krill-tiny shrimplike marine animals

Krill

Predators Tend to feed on young and weak As populations of prey decline, the predators either switch to other prey or begin to die off themselves

Competitions When 2 or more organisms of the same or different species attempt to use the same LIMITED resource

Competition Can also be between plants Competing for limited sunlight in the forest

Competition Examples Imported kudzu vines cover native plants and trees (NC) Imported fire ants compete with native ants for territory Panda bears compete with humans for bamboo

Species can compete even if they do not come Into contact with each other An insect species feeds on a flower during the day And another species feeds on the same flower at night

Parasitism What do ticks, fleas, viruses, tapeworms, leeches ( other than fishing) and mistletoe all have in common? Parasites- organisms that live on or in another organism They feed on it without IMMEDIATELY killing it

Plants and animals are weakened by parasites Making them more vulnerable to predators Host- the organism the parasite takes its nourishment from Fee

Mutualism A cooperative partnership between two species in which both benefit

How is bacteria useful? Billions of bacteria live in our intestines (yuck) However—without them we could not break down certain foods it would just be hanging out in our intestines forever

Bacteria also Produce necessary substances your body cannot make Vitamin k which is essential for proper blood clotting

Acacia Trees and Ants These trees provide food –nectar and nesting places in the thorns for the ants Ants defend the tree from grasshoppers/ beetles (herbivores)

commensalism One species benefits and the other is not harmed nor helped Remora fish attaches to a shark They feed on the shark’s leftovers