Interactions Among Living Things and Their Environment

Interactions of Living Things

And Their Environment

Poll

What do you think is going on with this frog and tarantula?

• The tarantula is hunting the frog

• The frog is the tarantula's pet

• The frog is protecting the tarantula

• The tarantula eats the frog's leftovers

In an ecosystem, living things and nonliving things interact with each other.

Some relationships are called symbiosis where organisms form a long-term relationship with each other to survive.

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​Ecosystems

Beneficial Interactions

These interactions are good for one or both of the organisms.

These are relationships that benefit both organisms.

Ex.

• Butterflies and flowers

• Sea anemone and clownfish

• Decorator crab and sponge

• Remora and sharks

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Mutualism

Multiple Choice

How do the clownfish and sea anemone help each other?

• The sea anemone is eaten by the clownfish.

• The clownfish cleans the sea anemone.

• The clownfish attracts prey for the anemone and the anemone protects the clownfish.

These are relationships that benefit only one of the organisms but leaves the other unharmed or unbothered.

Ex.

• Orchids and trees

• Shrimp and sea cucmber

• Barnacles and whales

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Commensalism

Harmful Interactions

These are relationships where one of the organisms are harmed or consumed.

When two organisms occupy a similar niche (the role they have in the ecosystem), they will have competition.

Ex.

• Owls and eagles

• Plants

• Ocean predators

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Competition

Multiple Choice

Which animals might be competitive with each other?

• plants and eagles

• rabbits and earthworms

• cougar and bobcat

In predation, the predator captures and consumes the prey.

Ocean predators:

• Orcas

• Sharks

• Barracudas

• Blue marlins

• Rays

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Predation

This relationship is where a parasite, lives off its host.

The host is harmed or is weaked by the parasite.

Parasites:

• Rafflesia

• Lice and ticks

• Intestinal worms

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Parasitism