Ecological Interactions

ENGAGEMENT As you watch the youtube video, describe how the Rhino and Bird interact with one another Also, jot down any new vocabulary terms that are introduced in the video

KEY CONCEPT COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS – When organisms live together in communities, they interact constantly Competition, Predation and Symbiosis are all ways that organisms interact.

Competition Competition-two organisms fight for the same limited resources Example 1: In a lawn, grass and weeds all compete for the same resources (space/sunlight)

Predation Predation-when one organism captures and eats another organism Example 1: Snakes are predators that swallow their prey (rats) whole

Symbiosis Symbiosis-a close relationship between two or more organisms of different species that live closely together Three types: 1. Mutualism 2. Commensalism 3. Parasitism

Mutualism Mutualism-both organisms benefit from each other Example 1: Eel gets teeth cleaned by shrimp. Shrimp gets food from the eel’s teeth. Organism 1Organism 2

Mutualism OPEN WIDE : A cleaner shrimp reaches into a moray eel's mouth. The shrimp uses its claws to pick stuff off the eel's body. That can include dead skin, tiny pieces of food, and even little creatures that can hurt the fish.

Mutualism Example 2: Bats get food from the flower. Seeds come out in bat poop.

Commensalism Commensalism— one organism benefits from the relationship, while the other is not affected. Example 1: Remora shark sticks to a whale shark, waiting for food and getting a ride. The whale shark is not affected. Organism 1Organism /

Commensalism Example 2: Mites benefit by finding a home in human eyelashes. Humans are not affected by the mites.

More examples of Commensalism Clownfish hide in poisonous sea anemones which protect them from larger fish. The clownfish benefit, and nothing happens to the sea anemones.

Parasitism Parasitism— The parasite benefits by keeping the host alive for days or years. The host is harmed by the parasite. Example 1: Female mosquitoes feast on human blood Organism 1Organism 2

Parasitism Female mosquito feasting on human blood.

Parasitism Example 2: Wasp larvae feed on a hornworm caterpillar. The hornworm caterpillar will eventually die.

CFUs (CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING!)

What type of interaction is this? The coral reef and the algae exist in a mutualistic relationship. They supply food and shelter for each other.

What type of interaction is this? This bird, called an egret rides on the back of large mammals like elephants. The egret benefits because it gets a place to live, and the elephant doesn’t care because it does not benefit or become harmed by the relationship.

What type of interaction is this?