Organism Relationships

PREDATION

• Predation – One organism, a predator, stalks, attacks, kills, and eats (+) another organism, the prey (-).

• Examples:

1.) Lion (+) and gazelle (-) 2.) Robin (+) and Earthworm (-)

COMPETITION

• When two or more organisms pursue or fight to obtain the same resource (food, mates, space/habitat). The organisms can compete with others of the same or completely different species!

• Examples: 1.) Deer compete with other deer for mates.2.) Squirrels compete with chipmunks for food in the forest.

SYMBIOSIS – “Living Together”

• Some organisms have developed close relationships for better survival

• Three types:

1. Commensalism- one benefits, other no effect

2. Mutualism- both benefit

3. Parasitism- one benefits, other harmed

1.) Commensalism

• One organism benefits (+), one is not effected (=)

• Examples:

1.) Clownfish (+) and sea anenomes (=)

2.) Birds (+) living in trees (=)

3.) Mites (+) attaching to insects (=)

2.) Mutualism

• Both organisms are benefitted (+/+) in the relationship

• Examples:

1.) Acacia ant (+) and Acacia tree (+)

2.) Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (+) and tree roots (+).

3.) Plants (+) and root fungus (+)

   

3.) Parasitism• One organism, the parasite,

gets a benefit (+) while the other, the host, gets harmed (-)

• Parasites live on their host, and do not kill their hosts

• Examples:

1.) Tick (+) and Dog (-)

2.) Lice (+) and Humans (-)

3.) Tapeworm (+) and Cat (-)

RELATIONSHIP ORGANISM 1 ORGANISM 2

MUTUALISM + +

COMMENSALISM + =

PARASITISM + - (harmed)

PREDATION + - (killed)

COMPETITION +/- +/-

NAME THE RELATIONSHIP

• Mosquitoes feed off of the blood of all kinds of animals. The mosquitoes receive nourishment while the animal is harmed with sickness, disease, or discomfort. NAME THE RELATIONSHIP!

NAME THE RELATIONSHIP

• Barnacles are crustaceans whose adults are sedentary. The barnacle attach themselves to the fins of whales. The barnacles benefit by finding a habitat where nutrients are available. (In the case of lodging on the living organism, the barnacle is transported to new sources of food.) The presence of barnacle populations does not appear to hamper or enhance the survival of the whale. NAME THAT RELATIONSHIP!

NAME THE RELATIONSHIP

• The cowbird is often found on the back of bison and buffalo on the plains. The cowbird eats ticks and insects off of the bison, but the bison is not affected at all by the bird’s presence. NAME THAT RELATIONSHIP!

NAME THE RELATIONSHIP• The sloth monkey is often

found inhabiting emerald trees in the rainforest. The monkeys stay exclusively in the tree canopy feeding off of the tropical fruits. Periodically, the monkeys will leave the trees to dessicate at the base of the tree before returning to the canopy. NAME THAT RELATIONSHIP!

NAME THAT RELATIONSHIP

• The Giant Pacific Octopus, the Great White Shark, and Humans all love to feed on lobster. During harvest season, the lobster population can become very scarce leading to tense interactions between these organisms.

                                       

NAME THAT RELATIONSHIP

• Great White Sharks attack smaller fish for food. NAME THAT RELATIONSHIP!