Warm Up From last week’s activity – How could the disappearance of wolves from the ecosystem affect the population of other species? Video clip

Warm Up 1. How do these organisms interact with each other?

Warm Up 2. How do these organisms interact with each other?

Warm Up 3. How do these organisms interact with each other?

Types of Interactions Among Living Things

Interactions with the Environment Most living things produce more offspring than will survive. This is known as overproduction. So why are we not overrun with frogs or fish?

Limiting Factors Organisms interact with the biotic & abiotic factors in their environment. Populations cannot grow without stopping. Limiting factor – a resource that is so scarce that it limits the size of a population. Limits on the amount of: (examples) – Food – Water – Living space – Other resources

Carrying Capacity Carrying capacity – the largest population that an environment can support. When a population grows larger than its carrying capacity, limiting factors in the environment cause individuals to die off or leave, returning the population to a size that the environment can support.

Interactions Among Organisms 1. Competition 2. Predation 3. Symbiosis

Adaptations Every organism has a variety of adaptations (characteristics) that are suited to its specific conditions which help the organism to survive. Every organism has a variety of adaptations (characteristics) that are suited to its specific conditions which help the organism to survive. The adaptations can also assist them in their interactions with other organisms. The adaptations can also assist them in their interactions with other organisms.

1. Competition Competition – when two or more individuals or populations try to use the same resources. – Compete for: Food, water, shelter, space, sunlight – Adaptations enable organisms to reduce competition.

Competition in a Population Example: – The elks in Yellowstone National Park are herbivores that compete with each other for food plants in the park.

Competition in a Community Example: – Competition also happens between different populations (within a community). Different species of plants compete with each other for sunlight and space.

2. Predation An interaction in which one organism hunts and kills another organism for food is called predation. – Predator the hunter – Prey the hunted Video clip: predator- preypredator- prey

Predator Adaptations Helps them catch & kill their prey – Speed – Stingers, toxins, sharp teeth – Camouflage – Night vision

Prey Adaptations Also known as “defense strategies” to avoid predation: 1. Camouflage 2. Protective coverings 3. Warning coloring 4. Defensive chemicals 5. Mimicry 6. False coloring

Camouflage Prey blend in to their environment to avoid being eaten by predators.

Protective Coverings Hedgehog

Warning Coloring Bright colors warn predators that the prey may be poisonous and to stay away!

Defensive Chemicals Some animals defend themselves with chemicals.

Mimicry Coral Snake King Snake The ability some animals have to resemble another animal so closely that they can fool either their prey or their predators. Monarch Viceroy

False Coloring Used to trick predators

With your table group… Describe the 2 relationships among living things we discussed yesterday…

3. Symbiosis Symbiosis is a close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of the species. 3 types: 1. Mutualism 2. Commensalism 3. Parasitism

Mutualism A relationship in which both species benefit – Positive Ex: – clownfish & sea anemone

Commensalism A relationship in which one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed – Neutral Ex: – gray whale covered in barnacles

Parasitism Involves one organism living on or inside another organism and harming it! – Negative Parasite – the organism that benefits Host – the organism that is harmed Ex: – Tapeworms

“Who You Callin’ Ugly?” Do you think it is beneficial for each of these organisms to look they way they do? Why or why not?

“Who You Callin’ Ugly?” What is an adaptation? Read the article Complete the following chart as a group: Animal:Odd or interesting trait: How is this trait beneficial to the animal? Proboscis Monkey Leaf-Tailed Gecko Wrinkle-Faced Bat Star-Nosed Mole Marabou Stork Sea Pig