Ecosystem InteractionsEcosystem Interactions

• In an ecosystem, In an ecosystem, many many interactions are interactions are happening all happening all the time.the time.

•There are 3 There are 3 main ways that main ways that organisms organisms interact with interact with eachother.eachother.

CompetitionCompetition

• The interaction between The interaction between two or more organisms two or more organisms competing for the same competing for the same resource in a given resource in a given habitat.habitat.

• Can occur between Can occur between members of the same members of the same speciesspecies

• Ie. males compete to Ie. males compete to determine who will mate determine who will mate and produce offspringand produce offspring

CompetitionCompetition

• Similar species can Similar species can coexist in an area, coexist in an area, but must have but must have slightly different slightly different niches.niches.

• Ie. different species Ie. different species of warblers can feed of warblers can feed on worms in the on worms in the same tree but each same tree but each feeds in a different feeds in a different part of the treepart of the tree

PredationPredation

• One organism eats One organism eats another organism another organism to obtain food.to obtain food.

• Prey animals are Prey animals are well adapted to well adapted to avoid being eatenavoid being eaten

Examples of Prey DefensesExamples of Prey Defenses

• Deer can outrun a bearDeer can outrun a bear

• Porcupines have quills to defend Porcupines have quills to defend themselvesthemselves

• Camouflage helps hide the prey from Camouflage helps hide the prey from their predatorstheir predators

Butterfly SurvivalButterfly Survival

• Monarch butterflies Monarch butterflies taste horrible and taste horrible and have bright colours have bright colours to warn predators of to warn predators of this factthis fact

• Other butterflies Other butterflies (like the viceroy) (like the viceroy) mimic the monarch’s mimic the monarch’s colouring so colouring so predators will avoid predators will avoid them as wellthem as well

Predator AdaptationsPredator Adaptations

• Many predators have Many predators have sharp eyesight, a keen sharp eyesight, a keen sense of smell, or both.sense of smell, or both.

• An owl can spot a An owl can spot a mouse in the dark from mouse in the dark from high above and swoop high above and swoop down on wings that are down on wings that are adated to make no adated to make no sound.sound.

• The owl’s sharp beak and claws are also adapted to snag and kill its prey.

SymbiosisSymbiosis

• A close interaction between two A close interaction between two different species in which members different species in which members of one species live in, on, or near of one species live in, on, or near members of another species.members of another species.

• Three main types of symbiosis:Three main types of symbiosis:MutualismMutualism

CommensalismCommensalismParasitismParasitism

MutualismMutualism

• Both species benefit from Both species benefit from the partnershipthe partnership

• Ie. A fungus lives in the Ie. A fungus lives in the underground colony of underground colony of leafcutter ants. The leafcutter ants. The fungus gets a supply of fungus gets a supply of leaves and the ants eat leaves and the ants eat certain parts of the fungus.certain parts of the fungus.

• Ie. Remoras follow sharks Ie. Remoras follow sharks around eating bits of food around eating bits of food off the shark. In return for off the shark. In return for the cleaning, the shark the cleaning, the shark doesn’t eat the remoradoesn’t eat the remora

CommensalismCommensalism

• One species One species benefits without benefits without any harm or any harm or benefit to the other benefit to the other species.species.

• Ie. a bird building a Ie. a bird building a nest in a treenest in a tree

ParasitismParasitism

• One species benefits at One species benefits at the expense of another the expense of another species.species.

• Parasites live on or Parasites live on or inside the host species inside the host species and obtain some or all and obtain some or all of their nutrition from of their nutrition from the host.the host.

• Ie ticks live on the Ie ticks live on the bodies of mammals and bodies of mammals and feed on the host’s bloodfeed on the host’s blood