Transcript Complicated Relationships in Nature

Complicated Relationships in
Nature
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Biotic and Abiotic Factors?
• Ecosystems are influenced by an array of
factors, some living and others not.
 The biological influences on organisms are called
biotic factors.
 This includes any and all living things that may interact with
an organism.
 In other words, the ecological community!
 Physical, or nonliving, influences on organisms are
called abiotic factors.
 This includes, temperature, precipitation, nutrients, sunlight,
shelter, etc.
• Together, biotic & abiotic factors determine the
success of an organism and its ecosystem.
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Habitat
• It is the area
where an
organism lives.
(the organism’s
address)
• It includes both
biotic and
abiotic factors.
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Niche
• It is the full range of biotic and abiotic
factors in which an organism lives and
how it uses those conditions. (A niche is
an organism’s occupation.)
This includes the type of food the organism
eats, how it obtains food, which other
organisms can eat it, and the ability to
reproduce.
In other words, the niche is the role that an
organism plays in its ecosystem.
It also refers to the temperature, nutrients,
and habitat necessary to survive.
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Competitive Exclusion Principle
• No two species can occupy the same niche in
the same habitat at the same time.
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One Big Happy Family!
• Most all living things have to interact with one
another for survival.
– Symbiosis – describes any relationship that develops
between two species because they live together
• The way in which different species interact
serves to define the type of ecosystem.
– There are various forms of symbiosis:
• Competition
• Mutualism
• Parasitism
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Competition
• Competition is when both organisms use the
same space and resources at the same time.
• Competition can occur between organisms of
the same species or different species.
• Both organisms are harmed because they
expend energy.
– Ex: Eastern Bluebird and House Sparrow
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Competition
The two
flowering
plants are
competing
for the
same space
Which
means both
of them are
harmed.
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Competition – Introduced Species
The Eastern Bluebird is
being forced into
smaller numbers by
the House Sparrow,
an introduced
species.
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Kudzu Competition
•
Kudzu was introduced to the
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United States in 1876 at the
Centennial Exposition in
Philadelphia, PA.
It “outcompetes” other
native plants so they don’t
have a place to grow.
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Mutualism
• A relationship where both organisms
benefit in some way.
• This can involve providing food, protection,
a place to live or even pollination.
– Ex: clown fish and sea anemone
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Mutualism - Clownfish and
Anemone
The clownfish gets protection
from the anemone and in
return the clownfish keeps
the anemone free from dirt and
debris.
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Mutualism - Lichens
Lichens consist of a
fungus with an algae
or photosynthetic
bacterium living
inside the fungus.
The alga provides
food for both of them
and the fungus
provides a habitat for
the algae.
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Termites and Endosymbiotic
Protists
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Mutualism – Ant and Aphid
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Oxpecker and Ox
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Ox-pecker
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More Ox peckers
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Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria and Plants
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Commensalism
• a relationship where one organism
benefits & the other is “unaffected.”
– Ex: Cattle egret and cattle
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Commensalism – Whale and Barnacle
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Sharks and Remoras
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Parasitism
• A relationship where
one organism benefits
and the other is
harmed
• Cuckoo Bird and
Small Nesting Birds
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Leeches and Mammal Host
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Mistletoe – A Plant Parasite
Mistletoe lives off the
branches and stems
of Other trees. It can
photo- synthesize a
little but not enough to
meet its needs. The
tree can be very
harmed.
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Tapeworm and Mammal Host
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Tobacco Hornworm and Wasp
Cocoons
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Predator-Prey
• In a predator-prey
relationship one
organism benefits and
the other is killed.
– Ex: mouse and snake
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The Ultimate Predator – A Wildcat!
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