1. Ag Science in our Environment
September , 2013
Objective -
Big Question
I will be able to:
Describe the ecology of organisms with their environment
Describe the ecology of organisms with other organisms
Language Objective
I will write a summary describing how organisms interact with other organisms in an ecosystem.
Bell work
Please name the 6 Ecological Levels of Organization from largest to smallest.
21st Century Relevance
Students need to understand the importance of Ecological Systems and how organisms interact and also affect them.
# of Days
1 day
Vocabulary
Core Concepts
Ecology
Biosphere
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Organism
Habitat
Abiotic
Acclimation
Regulators
Parasitism
Commensalisms
Niche
Biotic
Conformer
Predation
Mutualism

2. Ecology of Organisms Habitat (where it lives)
Affected by Biotic and Abiotic factors
Abiotic factors: non-living, includes: temperature, humidity, pH, availability of sunlight, etc
Biotic factors: all living things
Niche (species role in the environment)
Includes tolerance range, offspring produced, ability to obtain resources, etc

3. Predator-Prey One organisms depends on the other organism
Example: Lion eats a Zebra
Energy

4. Symbiosis “Living Together”
One species lives in close association with another species over a period of time
Avoids competition for resources
Examples:
Mutualism
Parasitism
Commensalisms

5. Mutualism Both organisms benefit It is between two different organisms
Example: Crocodile Bird and the Nile Crocodile
Crocodile usually eats animals, but allows the bird to walk on its mouth
Bird cleans parasites in the crocs teeth and removes and eats scraps of food

6. Commensalisms One organism benefits, one unharmed
Sharing space, defense, shelter food
“eating together at the same table”
Neither one will die if relationship is ended
Example: Shrimp and Sea Cucumber
The shrimp spends the day inside the intestines of the sea cucumber and at night emerges from it to feed on small crustaceans
The cucumber does not benefit from it, but is not harmed

7. Parasitism
One organism, the parasite, secures a home on or inside another organism
The parasite is the “guest” and the other organism is the “host”
It usually harms the host and benefits the guest

8. Trivia Time – Part 1
This organism is a bird that eats insects that live on and irritate antelopes. The bird flies up noisily when other animals approach.
What type of symbiotic relationship does this describe?

9. Trivia Time – Part 2
This organism lives in the intestine of its host, feeding off the host’s blood. The host suffers from loss of blood; it becomes thin and is easy prey to diseases.
What type of symbiotic relationship does this describe?