How Living Things Interact in Ecosystems

Predators and Prey

Predator and Prey Predators – animals that hunt

other animals for food. • (Always depend on other animals for food)

Prey – animals that are hunted

Predator and Prey

Hawk - Predator

Rabbit - Prey

Predators and Prey Predators and Prey are

connected If prey increase – more food for

predators, more predators

If predators increase – shortage of prey, some predators won’t get enough food, leave or die

Competition In ecosystems living things

compete for resources.

Competition – the demand for a resource by two or more organisms

Competition Members of different populations

compete for resources:• deer and squirrels eat acorns• dandelions and grass compete for space

• hawks, owls, and snakes compete for mice

Competition If one animal or group gets too

much of a resource there may not be enough for the other groups

Extra Information Humans can destroy habitats by

building houses and buildings.

niche – the role of an organism in their environment• ex – a plant is a producer