Ecology The study of interactions that occur among organisms and their environments

Quick Review... Food Chain : The ways in which the organisms in an ecosystem interact with one another according to what they eat. (simple)

Food Web : a model that shows all the possible feeding relationships instead of just one like a food chain. A food web is made up of many food chains.

Energy Pyramids… As you move up a food chain the avaliable energy decreases As you move up a food pyramid the amount of orgainisms decreases.

Producers… A producer is an organism the uses the sun to make its own energy. Producers are green plants All food chains or webs begin with green plants.

Consumer… A consumer is an organism that cannot make its own energy. Consumers obtain energy by eating other organisms.

Decomposer… A decomposer breaks down dead material

Symbiotic Relationships Not all relationships among organisms involve food. Many organisms live together and share resources in other ways. Any close relationship between species is called symbiosis. Symbiosis occurs when two species live together in a close long-term association

All living things have the same basic requirements... Food/Nutrition Shelter/Living space Safety In a symbiotic relationship at least one of the organisms involved is meeting one of the basic needs for living through the relationship.

Mutualism... a symbiotic relationship in which both participating species benefit. Example: Ant & Aphid + ant gets nutrition from the aphid’s honeydew- a sugary secreation from the aphid’s body +aphid gets protection from the ant against predatory insects like lady bugs

Mutualism... Some other examples of mutualism: The ostrich and gazelle feed next to each other. Both watch for predators and alert each other to danger. They each see predators the other wouldn’t see.

Commensalism... A symbiotic relationship is which one organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped. Example: Epiphytes also know as “air plants” live on the bark of trees. + the epiphyte gets space to live 0 the tree is not harmed or benefits in any way

Commensalism... Another example of commensalism: Clown Fish and Sea Anemones The sea anemones have tubelike tentacles the contain a mild poison that can kill small fish. The clown fish can swim among the tentacles without being harmed. The anemones tentacles protect the clown fish from predators. So in this relationship the clown fish benefits but the sea anemone is not helped or hurt

Parasitism... A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits but the other is harmed. Example: Tape worm + the tape worm lives inside the animals intestines and gets shelter and food - the animal loses nutrition, may lose weight, and become ill

Predator/ Prey … This is a relationship were the predator hunts the prey. + the predator gets food, energy, and nutrients - the prey is hurt or killed

Competition… Where two organisms compete for the same resource or food

Time for a fun quiz!!! The following slides have examples of different types of relationships in the environment. Your job is to decide which type of relationship each example is. Use the white boards to write your answers. When the time is up hold up your white board.

Pseudoscorpion and Beetle

Commenslis m Pseudoscorpions are scropion like animals have pincers (chlicera) like scorpions, but lack a sting. A few species of pseudoscorpions disperse by concealing themselves under the wing covers (elyatra) of large beetles such as the cerambycid beetle. The pseudoscorpions gain the advantage of being dispersed over wide areas while simulataneously being protected from predators. The beetle is, presumably, unaffected by the presence of the hitchhikers.

Flea and Dog

» Parasitism the flea gets a home and food the dog is harmed because the flea feeds on its blood

Deer and Moose

» Competition both are fighting over grass and food

Owl and Mouse

Predator/ Prey Relationship The owl hunts the mouse The mouse runs and hides from the owl

Squirrel and Oak Tree

Commensalis m Squirrel gets a place to live Oak tree is not harmed because it does not lose any nutrients

Crocodile and Bird

Mutualism Crocodile appreciates the dental work and teeth cleaning Bird is a plover and it flies into the mouth of the crocodile and feeds on bits of decaying meat stuck to the croc’s teeth.

Sharks and Seals

Predator / Prey relationship Shark hunts the seal Seal tries to hide from the shark

Roundworm

Parasitism Round worm gets food and nutrients form pets intestines Pet gets sick and could even die

Turkey and Cardnial

Competition Turkey and Cardinal compete for seeds and food

Barnacles and Shell

Commensalism Barnacles attach to rocks, ships, shells, whales, and just about anywhere else they can gain a foothold. The barnacle gains a place to live. The shell is not harmed or bothered.