1. 1 Special Relationships in Wildlife Let’s Learn About Animal Populations and Environments Unit 7, Lesson 6: Animal Populations & Environments

2. 2 I. Many relationships are formed around organisms obtaining energy through feeding. a.Autotrophs: Organisms that use energy from the sun or energy stored in chemical compounds to manufacture food. Examples: Plants Some single-cell organisms

3. 3 I. Many relationships are formed around organisms obtaining energy through feeding. b.Heterotrophs: Organisms that depend on other organisms as their source of nutrients and energy. i. Consumers – can’t make their own food. ii. Herbivores: Feed directly on autotrophs iii. Carnivores: Eat other Heterotrophs Examples: Cattle, rabbits, grasshoppers Examples: Lions

4. 4 More Heterotrophs iv. Scavengers: Some feed on carrion, refuse and dead v. Omnivores: Organisms that eat a variety of foods that include both plant and animals materials. vi.Decomposers: break down the complex compounds of dead and decaying plants and animals. Examples: Bacteria, fungi, protozoan Examples: Humans, raccoons, coyotes, bears Examples: Black vultures, buzzards, ants, beetles

5. 5 II. Other relationships are formed around organisms for survival a.Predator-prey: Some animals must kill others for food for survival Examples: Lions kill gazelle & wildebeests

6. 6 II. Other relationships are formed around organisms for survival b.Symbiosis: A close and permanent association between organisms of different species. i. Commensalism: one species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor benefited. ii. Mutualism: Both species benefit. iii. Parasitism: One organism derives benefit at the expense on another, but without killing it. Examples: Fleas, ticks, tapeworms, roundworms Example: Ants on the acacia tree Example: Spanish moss growing on a tree.

7. 7 Did you record all the important terms? AutotrophsPredator-prey HeterotrophsCommensalism OmnivoresMutualism HerbivoresParasitism Carnivores Scavengers Decomposers Lets Practice! Take 2 minutes to quiz the person next to you over these terms.