YEAR 9 ECOSYSTEMS:

INTERACTIONS

In this next series of lessons we will be exploring interactions between organisms such as predator/prey, parasites, competitors, pollinators and disease.

PREDATOR - PREYA predator is an animal that catches live prey for food.

The prey is an animal that is captured, killed and consumed by another animal

e.g. lion (predator) & zebra (prey), bear & fish, fox & rabbit.

Let’s watch Hunter & Hunted! (on clickview)

What are predators? Worksheet (p41-42 Achieve)

COMPETITIONCompetition is when organisms compete for resources that they need to survive.

COMPETITIONFor plants (producers, autotrophs) competition typically means competing for sunlight, water, and nutrients from the soil, which are all necessary for photosynthesis.

These forest trees are growing taller and taller in order to compete with each other for sunlight

These forest trees are spreading their roots in order to maximise their ability to take in water and nutrients from the soil, as well as keep other trees out of their territory.

How do plants compete for food worksheet (p35-36 Achieve)

Giant Amazon Lily Video

Tree & plant life in the jungle video

COMPETITIONFor animals (consumers, heterotrophs) competition usually occurs over territory, food, and mates.

These male deer are competing to see who will be the alpha male and mate with the female deer

These hyenas are competing with this lion over an animal carcass

How do animals in ecosystems compete for food worksheet (p40 Achieve)

Competition in ecosystems worksheet (p15-16 Achieve).

Animal Territory Battles for Survival Video

SYMBIOSIS

Organisms in a close RELATIONSHIP where at least one organism benefits.

Symbiosis general overview vid

Without one another bees and many types of flowers would not be able to exist

One partner benefits whilst the other remains unharmed

COMMENSALISM (+ 0)

Remoras hitch a ride on sharks and feed on scraps from the sharks meal. This helps the remora but has no effect on the shark

Epiphytes e.g. ferns, orchids, and mosses grow on larger trees allowing them to access more sunlight and rainwater

PARASITISM (+ -)

One partner (the parasite) benefits, and the other (the host) is harmed.

Parasites live on or in their host

Some examples are heart worm in dogs, hookworms in people, and mould (white fuzzy stuff) on aquarium fishes.

Parasitism (Monsters Inside Me) vids

Parasitoid wasp

Create a parasite task

Mutualism (++)A partnership between 2 different kinds of organisms

where both of them benefit

Plover & croc videoClownfish & Anemone video

Mutualism song

Mutualism wanted ad task

Interactions summary Construct a table to summarise the similarities and differences between parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism.

+−

Quizlet: ecological interactions (key terms)

Quizlet: examples of ecological interactions

Relationships worksheet p13-14 Acheive

Relationships worksheet p43-44 Achieve