Relationships Are Complicated! Symbiosis Overview

We all live together! Most all living things have to interact with one another for survival. –Symbiosis – describes any relationship that develops between two species because they live together The way in which different species interact serves to define the type of ecosystem. –There are various forms of symbiosis:

Competition Competition is when two organisms use the same space and resources at the same time. Competition can occur between organisms of the same species or different species Competitive Exclusion Principle – No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time.

Competition The two flowering plants are competing for the same space Which means both of them are harmed.

Kudzu Competition Kudzu was introduced to the United States in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, PA. It “outcompetes” other native plants so they don’t have a place to grow. &imgrefurl= nw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkudzu%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D

Competition – introduced species The Eastern Bluebird is being forced into smaller numbers by the House Sparrow, an introduced species.

Mutualism a relationship where both organisms benefit in some way This can involve providing food, protection, a place to live or even pollination.

Mutualism - Clownfish and Anemone The clownfish gets protection from the anemone and in return protects the anemone from fish that would eat it (angelfish); the clownfish also keeps the anemone free of dirt and debris.

Mutualism - Lichens Lichens consist of a fungus with an algae or photosynthetic bacterium living inside the fungus. The alga provides food for both of them and the fungus provides a habitat for the alga. tbnid=7aE_8wrZkK9LJM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=148&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlichen%26start%3D20%26n dsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

Termites and Endosymbiotic Protists The protists digest cellulose for the termites, and the termites provide food for the protists.

Mutualism – Ant and Aphid The ants protect and ‘farm’ the aphids, while the aphids provide them with nectar.

Oxpecker and Ox The oxpecker (bird) eats the parasites from the coat of the ox, so the ox has a clean coat and the bird has easy access to food.

Another ox(?)pecker

More Ox (?) peckers

Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria and Plants The bacterial colonies in the roots of the plants provide nitrogen to the plants from the soil. In return, the plants provide the bacteria with food.

Bioluminescent Fish media/fig3a_400.jpg Bacteria living in the angler of the fish produce a waste product that glows in the dark. The fish uses this ‘light’ to lure and capture prey.

Commensalism a relationship where one organism benefits & the other is “unaffected.” There is a debate about whether commensalism is actually a one-way relationship or an undiscovered form of mutualism.

Cattle Egret and Cattle Unlike the oxpecker, the cattle egret does not clean the coat of the cow. Instead, it hangs around waiting to eat the dead bugs that the cow swats from its back. The cow receives no benefit for the bird being present.

Sharks and Remoras The remoras (small fish) hang around the shark and eat any leftover scraps from the shark’s prey. The shark seemingly receives no benefit, but it is often questioned as to why the shark does not simply eat the remoras.

Commensalism – whale and barnacle The barnacle larvae swim around, attach to the whale, and form the adult. This habitat is a good one for providing food. The whale does not “appear” to be harmed.

Commensalism – limpets on mussel shell

Parasitism a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed. The interaction may eventually lead to the death of the organism, but not in all cases.

Cuckoo Bird and Small Nesting Birds 30DEE08BC0C2/Presentation.Large/Dunnock_nest_with_three_dunnock_eggs_and_one_cuckoo_egg_.jpg The cuckoo bird lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. When its young hatch, they are raised by a bird of a different species. The young of the ‘parent’ bird are killed and it doesn’t get to reproduce.

Leeches and Mammal Host Leeches suck blood and nutrients from their hosts. The host rarely dies, but does lose nutrients and may have to work harder to support its nutritional needs.

Mistletoe – a plant parasite Mistletoe lives off the branches and stems of Other trees. It can photo- synthesize a little but not enough to meet its needs. The tree is often greatly effected.

Tapeworm and Mammal Host worm1.jpg Tapeworms absorb nutrients from the intestines of their host. The host can be greatly effected by the loss of nutrients, including eventual death in severe cases.

Tobacco Hornworm and Wasp Cocoons The wasp lays it eggs on the caterpillar. When they hatch, the larvae burrow into the caterpillar and eat him from the inside out. In this way, the wasp offspring are provided with a temporary habitat and an immediate source of food.

Heartworms and Dogs The worm larvae are transferred from dog to dog through the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquito sucks larval heartworms with blood from an infected dog. The mosquito then bites another dog and transfers these microscopic larva as it bites. During the next few months, these larva migrate through the dogs body arriving at the heart several months later where they become adults.

Predator-Prey a relationship where one organism benefits and the other dies.

Predator prey In this Predator-Prey relationship, the spider is eating an insect that it has trapped. /

Predator-Prey In a predator-prey relationship one organism benefits and the other is killed.

The Ultimate Predator – a Wildcat!