4.2 ECOSYSTEMS What is an ecosystem? The BIOTIC and ABIOTIC factors in an ecosystem.

BIOTIC Factors ABIOTIC Factors Living or biological influences on organisms ABIOTIC Factors Nonliving influences on organisms Precipitation Wind Soil Rocks Air Sunlight Temperature

Biotic and Abiotic factors determine... survival and growth of organisms productivity of the ecosystem

HABITAT vs. NICHE Habitat Niche The area in which an organism lives (organism’s specific home) The role (JOB) the organism plays within its habitat How does it interact with the biotic and abiotic factors?? Survival …What it eats, who eats it, how it eats, how it reproduces Habitat Niche What is Your niche?

Community Interactions Competition – occurs when organisms attempt to use the same RESOURCE in the same place and time. Resource – anything necessary for life Direct Competition results in winner and loser (may not survive)

Competitive exclusion principle no two species can occupy the same niche and habitat at the same time.

Organism hunts and feeds on another organism H. Predation Organism hunts and feeds on another organism Predator Prey The organism that hunts (Eats) - The organism that is hunted (eaten)

What makes predators better hunters??? Stealth - Camouflage - Immunity to Poisons Keen Senses Physical Structures Poisonous Chemicals Being very still, quiet, sneaky Copying a color to blend in Good sense of sight, hearing, smell Spines, horns, Claws

How organisms prevent predation… (or being hunted) DEFENSE MECHANISMS Mimicry - Warning Coloration - Chemical Defense - Playing dead - Camouflage – Groupings or Increasing Size - Physical Structures Sounds Looking like another organism Uses color to warn predators Poisons, bad odors Ex. Opossums and birds Copying a color to blend in Organisms puff up or group together to scare of predators Spines, Thorns, Horns, Claws Shells Rattlesnake, lion roars…

"Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, won't hurt Jack." MIMICRY "Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, won't hurt Jack."

WARNING COLORATION

Chemical Defense

Camouflage

Groupings – Increase Size

Sounds Physical Structures

Symbiosis (3 types) Any relationship in which two species live closely together Parasitism Mutualism Commensalism one organism benefits both organisms benefit one organism benefits one organism is harmed one organism is unaffected

Parasites Organisms that feed on or get nutrients from another organism. Parasites live off of and weaken, they do not kill their host. If they killed their host for food, they would be a ________________. HOST – the organism the parasite feeds off of Predator

Mutualism: both benefit Example 2: Moray Eel with Cleaner Fish Moray Eel gets a clean mouth Cleaner Fish gets a meal Mutualism: both benefit

Example 3: Cattle with cattle egrets Cattle stir up insects as they eat grass Egrets hang around and eat insects Commensalism: one benefits, one is unaffected

Example 4: Clown fish with anemone Clown fish gets protection Anemone gets food Mutualism: both benefit

Example 5: Taenia worm in human eye Worm infects human blood stream Human may go blind Parasitism: one benefits, one is harmed

Orchid and Tree (unharmed) Commensalism

one benefits , one is harmed Example 6: Deer and Tick Parasitism one benefits , one is harmed

Example 1: Shrimp & Goby Fish The shrimp digs and cleans a burrow Goby alerts the shrimp Mutualism both benefit

Lamprey sucks blood from fish Parasitism Lamprey sucks blood from fish

Mutualism Ants (protects) & Aphids (produce sweet liquid for the ant to drink)

SUMMARY QUIZ??? What is MUTUALISM? Both Benefit 2. What is COMMENSALISM? One benefits and one is unaffected 3. What is PARASITISM? One benefits and one is harmed

Commensalism Mites travel on the insect from one point to another…

Birds eat insects and parasites off of rhino Mutualism Birds eat insects and parasites off of rhino

Antelope gets rid of parasites Oxbird gets a meal Mutualism Antelope gets rid of parasites Oxbird gets a meal

Cleaner Fish & Larger Fish Mutualism

Remora eat scraps from shark Commensalism Remora eat scraps from shark