Day 7 a: Lesson. Ecological Relationships

Ecological Relationships

Reorder

Reorder the following

• organism

• species

• community

• ecosystem

• biosphere

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Ecology

The branch of
biology that
deals with the
relations of
organisms to
one another
and to their
physical
surroundings.

Biotic vs Abiotic

▪ Both are responsible for shaping an

ecosystem

▪ Biotic factors: all things living

▪ Abiotic factors: all things non-living

Multiple Select

Select all that are biotic

• Tall bluestem grass

• Post Oak Tree

• Red Tailed Hawk

• Average temperature 94 degrees

• 6-8 inches of rainfall/year

Species Interactions: Symbiosis

5 major types of symbiotic relationships
(special relationships between two
species due to co-evolution)

▪ predation

▪ competition

▪ parasitism

▪ commensalism

▪ mutualism

Environmental

Interactions

Abiotic

Biotic

Symbiosis

Competition

Feeding

Parasitism

Mutualism

Commensalism

Predation

Competition

▪ Competition occurs

when two or more
individuals/species
compete for the same
resources to survive.
▪ food
▪ water
▪ territory
▪ mates
▪ sunlight

Read more about competition, how it
effects individual species and ultimalty
drives evolution
https://sciencing.com/competition-biology-defi
nition-types-examples-13719233.html

Two outcomes are
possible in the
presence of
competition:

1. One species becomes

extinct

2. Species evolve to use

different niches
(sets of resources)

Mutualism

▪ Both species benefit

▪ Ants protect aphids and the aphids produce

honeydew for the ants

▪ Clownfish and sea anemones
▪ Crocodiles and plover

Multiple Choice

What do you call an animal that only eats plants?

• niche

• carnivore

• parasite

• herbivore

• predator

Multiple Choice

What is the general term used to describe the interaction between two different organisms that are living in close physical association?

• photosynthesis

• symbiosis

• habitat

• prey

• omnivore

Multiple Choice

This term describes a consumer that feeds only on other consumers - in other words, the 'opposite' of vegan…

• mutualsim

• niche

• prey

• autotroph

• carnivore

Multiple Choice

The animal in an ecological relationship that results in another animal being hunted, killed, and eaten…

• autotroph

• habitat

• predator

• herbivore

• producer

Multiple Choice

An ecological symbiotic relationship between two organisms where one benefits and the other is harmed…

• parasitism

• herbivore

• mutualism

• carnivore

• commensalism

Multiple Choice

What you would call an ecological symbiotic relationship between two organisms where one benefits, but the other is not helped or harmed?

• mutualsim

• predator

• commensalism

• parasitism

• herbivory

Multiple Choice

The name of the process that producers use to make their own food…

• respiration

• commensalism

• food chains

• photosynthesis

• symbiosis

Multiple Choice

Another word for a plant or other producer that makes its own food using energy from sunlight…

• photosynthesis

• autotroph

• consumer

• carnivore

• herbivore

Multiple Choice

Technically speaking, ALL food chains should end with these types of organisms so that nutrients can be recycled back into the habitat…

• parasites

• predators

• herbivores

• symbiotes

• decomposers

Multiple Choice

What is the term used to describe ALL of the populations of ALL the species of living organisms within a particular habitat?

• savanna

• wildlife

• community

• habitat

• ecosystem

Multiple Choice

The term used to include all of the living things PLUS all the non-living things together in a specific environment...

• community

• biosphere

• habitat

• population

• ecosystem

Multiple Choice

What do you call the total count of a specific organism living within their natural habitat?

• ecosystem

• community

• population

• symbiosis

• niche

Commensalism

▪ One benefits, the other species is not affected

▪ Pseudoscorpions hitching ride on a fly’s leg

▪ Cattle and cattle egrets
▪ Sharks and pilot fish

Parasitism

▪One species ( parasite) takes nourishment from another
species ( host) while weakening the host

▪Parasitized caterpillar covered with wasp pupae which have
consumed all internal tissue except vital organs

▪Tapeworm in a mammal’s intestine

▪Mistletoe

▪Fungus

Predation: Predator and
Prey

▪ predator species kills and eats the other species,

prey.

▪ Praying mantis captures grasshopper.
▪ Anole captures and eats praying mantis.

Relationship Cheat Sheet

Mutualism

Commensalism

Parasitism

Predation

Competition

What types of relationships?

1. Deer and grass
2. Dog and tick
3. Sticker burrs and animals
4. Termites and termite gut microbes

(these break down cellulose)

5. Hawk and rabbit

6. Trees and grass

What types of relationships?

1. Deer and grass (Predation)
2. Dog and tick ( Parasitism)
3. Sticker burrs and animals (Commensalism)
4. Termites and termite gut microbes

(these break down cellulose) (Mutualism)

5. Hawk and rabbit ( predation)

6. Trees and grass

( Competition)