Ecological Relationships and Symbiosis

Interpret relationships, including predation, parasitism, commensalism, mutualism, and competition, among organisms

AND

Summarize the role of microorganisms in both maintaining and disrupting the health of both organisms and ecosystems

Ecological Relationships

There are 3 major relationship types:

• Predation

• Competition

• Symbiosis

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3 Major Relationship Types

Multiple Select

What are the 3 major relationship types?

• Mutualism

• Predation

• Commensalism

• Competition

• Symbiosis

The predator-prey relationship

​involves one organism surviving by consuming another. Think:

Happy face - Dead face.

Predation

The competitive relationship

​involves 2 organisms competing for resources. "Resources" includes:

• Shelter/space (Inter- or intra-species)

• Food (Also inter- or intra-species)

• Mates (Only intra-species)

Think:

Both - Game on faces.

​

​Competition

2 organisms living in (usually) long-term close physical association. ONE ALWAYS BENEFITS!

3 types:

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

Symbiosis

Match

Match the following

• Competition

• Predator-Prey

• Symbiosis

A lion and a hyena pack fight over a fresh kill.

An anteater consuming the ants in an anthill

Bacteria in our gut that helps us digest food

• A lion and a hyena pack fight over a fresh kill.

• An anteater consuming the ants in an anthill

• Bacteria in our gut that helps us digest food

Both organisms benefit!

Examples:

• Bacteria in our gut

• Clownfish and sea anemones

• Lichen (algae and bacteria)

​Happy face - Happy face.

​Mutualism

Multiple Choice

Yucca flowers are pollinated by yucca moths. The moths lay their eggs in the flowers and the eggs hatch. The larvae eat some of the seeds, and spread them around. Both species are benefited.

• mutualism

• commensalism

• parasitism

One organism benefits, the other is unaffected.

Examples:

• Cattle egret and cows

• Shark and remora

​Happy face - I don't careface.

​Commensalism

One organism benefits, the other is harmed.

Examples:

• Flea on dog

• Tapeworm in gut

​Happy face - Sad face.

​Parasitism

Match

Match the following

• Beneficial bacteria in our gut

• Bacterial infection in an open wound

• Bacteria on our skin

• Different bacteria filling in any open space first

• Shellfish feeding on bacteria through filtration

Mutualism

Parasitism

Commensalism

Competition

Predation

• Mutualism

• Parasitism

• Commensalism

• Competition

• Predation