Ecosystem Relationship Lesson

Ecological Relationship

by Garfield Baker

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​Since organisms live in close proximity to each other in an Ecosystem

​they will

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​1. Compete with each other for Food, Space , and water

​2. They will depend on each for Food

​Three Types of Relationships Found in Ecosystems!

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​1. Competition

​2. Predation

​3. Symbiosis

​Competition

When two species in an ecosystem need to share a valuable and often limited resource such as food, shelter, sunlight, living space or water

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Examples: In a dense forest, plants compete with each other for living space that provides  sunlight.

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As lion populations grow, they compete for resources such as food and water.  If there is too little food or water for the growing population some will die.  

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​Competition can be

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​1. Intraspecific

​2. Interspecific

​Intraspecific Competition

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IntrAspecific Competition: 

Occurs when animals of the SAME species compete for the same resources.

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​Interspecific Competition

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IntERspecific Competition:

• Occurs when organisms of DIFFERENT species compete for the same resources.

Multiple Choice

______________ occurs when more than one individual or population tries to use the same limited resource.

• Niche

• Predator-prey

• Availability

• Competition

Multiple Choice

Individuals of the same species compete for the same resources is_________ competition.

• Intraspecific

• Interspecific

Multiple Choice

Individuals of the different species compete for the same resources is_________ competition.

• Inraspecific

• Interspecific

Multiple Choice

When a pine tree grows real tall and blocks sunlight to another pine tree it is _______ competition.

• Interference

• Intraspecific

• Interspecific

• Exploitative

​Ecological Niche

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Ecological Niche refers to the role of an organism in its environment.

-Two species with identical

 niches cannot coexist

 in the same habitat.

​Predation

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- Different species in an ecosystem interact where one species (predator) will hunt another species (prey) as a food source.

​- Lions and Zebra have a predator prey relationship

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Multiple Choice

One organism hunts and eats another organism.

• predation

• mutualism

• carnivore

• parasitism

Multiple Choice

Wild Pig

• Predator

• Prey

Multiple Choice

Alligator

• Predator

• Prey

Open Ended

What do you believe would happen in an ecosystem if there were zebras and NO Lions ?

Open Ended

What do you believe will happen to the number of PREY if the PREDATOR population  increases in number over time ?

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• Too much prey ​will result in overpopulation . More competition, resulting in death of preys

• Too much predator will lead to death of prey and ultimately predators​

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• Predator- prey relationships maintain balance in an ecosystem

• ​W hen the number of predators decreases allows a prey population to make a comeback. 

• ​ As the predator population   is increasing, the prey population is decreasing

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​Explain the predator prey cycle shown in the daigram

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Multiple Choice

When predator numbers decrease, prey numbers ____________ because fewer of them are being consumed.

• decrease
• increase
• stay the same
• divide in half

Multiple Choice

Predator population lags behind prey population because:

• Increase in predators leads to decrease in prey

• Increase in predators leads to increase in prey

• Increase in predators leads to decrease in producers

Multiple Choice

What statement is TRUE about the graph?

• The prey is the green line because there needs to be more prey than predators.
• The prey is the red line because there needs to be more predators than prey.
• The green line is the producers
• The red line is the producers

Multiple Choice

TRUE OR FALSE:

Removing a top predator from an ecosystem is always a good thing for the prey that live there.

• True

• False

​What is a Symbiosis Relationship?

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Symbiosis is a term used to describe close, and often long lasting interactions between different biological species

Multiple Choice

A relationship that describe a close interaction between two different species is known as what? (This is the broad "umbrella" term.)

• Biodiversity

• Symbiosis

• Predation

• Emigration

​Mutualism

​Both organisms are benefited by the relationship.

Example: The clown fish is protected from predators by the sea anemone and the anemone is cleaned by the clownfish.

​Parasitism

​One organism is benefited (parasite)  by the relationship and the other organism is harmed (host)

​Commensalism

​One organism is benefited by the relationship and the other organism is not harmed or helped

Example: A cattle egret (benefits) follows cattle (not affected) and eats the insects that are stirred up by the movement of the cattle through the grass

Multiple Choice

A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is harmed.

• Mutualism

• Competition

• Parasitsm

• Commensalism

Multiple Choice

Which of the following symbiotic relationships is considered parasitic?

• Ticks feeding on a dog

• Bees transporting pollen from flowers

• Pilotfish swimming under sharks

• Birds eating the insects from the back of hippo

Multiple Choice

A tapeworm lives in the intestines of its host. Which example best describes the relationship between the tapeworm and its host?

• The tapeworm benefits from its host; however, the host is not affected.

• The tapeworm does not benefit from its host, but the host does benefit.

• The tapeworm benefits from its host, and the host is negatively affected.

Multiple Choice

An organism that lives on or in a host and causes it harm is called

• a host
• a parasite
• a cell
• a virus

Multiple Choice

Which of these best describes parasitism?

• One species benefits while another species also benefits

• One species benefits while another species is killed

• One species benefits while another species is harmed

• One species benefits while nothing happens to another species

Multiple Choice

Type of relationship: A wolf eating a rabbit.

• Predator/prey

• Parasite/host

• Producer/consumer

• Competitors

Multiple Choice

Type of relationship: A wolf eating a rabbit.

• Predator/prey

• Parasite/host

• Producer/consumer

• Competitors

Multiple Choice

A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit:

• Competition.

• Mutualism.

• Commensalism.

• Parasitism.

Multiple Choice

Remoras are fish that generally latch on to sharks and eat leftovers of food from the shark. This is an example of which type of ecological relationship?

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

• Competition

Multiple Choice

This is known as a relationship in which both organisms involved benefit. 

• Predator-Prey
• Commensalism
• Mutualism
• Decomposition

Multiple Choice

Pseudoscorpions often hitch rides on the backs of large beetles or true bugs. What is the ecological relationship?

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

• Cooperation