1. Ecological Interactions
8.L.3.2 – Summarize the relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers including the positive and negative consequences of such interactions.
I can explain the difference between competition and predation.
I can compare and contrast the three types of symbiotic relationships that occur in communities: mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism.

2. Levels of Organization
Organism – a specific species of plant, animal, bacteria, fungus or other living thing that lives in a specific area
Population – a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same place at the same time.
Community – made up of populations that interact with each other
Ecosystem – several types of living things live in an environment and interact between themselves and nonliving surroundings. Also called a biome.
Biome – global ecosystem located in a specific portion of the world (i.e. deserts, oceans, forests. Characterized by the amount of rainfall per year.)
Biosphere – the living world and all biotic and abiotic factors that affect life within it.

3. What are some ecological interactions?
Competition
Predation
Symbiosis
Parasitism
Mutualism
Commensalism

4. Competition – two species share a requirement for a
limited resource  reduces fitness of one or both species
Kudzu vines are considered competition. Why?

5. Predation – one species feeds on another  enhances
fitness of predator but reduces fitness of prey
herbivory is a form of
predation

6. Symbiosis – two species live together  can include
parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism

7. Parasitism – one species feeds on another  enhances
fitness of parasite but reduces fitness of host

8. Mutualism – two species provide resources or services
to each other  enhances fitness of both species

9. Commensalism – one species receives a benefit from
another species  enhances fitness of one species; no
effect on fitness of the other species

10. Organizing ecological interactions
effect on species 1
predation
herbivory
parasitism + -
commensalism
mutualism
effect on
species 2
competition

11. Symbiosis “Wanted” Poster
You will create a “Wanted” poster depicting a symbiotic relationship – parasitism, mutualism, or commensalism
Size – 8 ½ x 11 plain paper. NO NOTEBOOK PAPER!
Must include:
What you are looking for and why
Explain the type of relationship
Mutualism – both organisms benefit
Commensalism – one organism receives no harm or benefit
Parasitism – one organism is harmed
Pictures of both organisms
Creativity (make it funny, interesting)
Color!