Interactions among organisms

The study of how organisms interact with one another and

their environment is called _____.

Ecology

Organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring are

called __________.

Species

A group of the same species that occupy an area are called a

______

Population

The most biologically diverse biome is the

a. swamp.

b. grassland.

c. tundra.

d. tropical rain forest.

The most biologically diverse biome is the

a. swamp.

b. grassland.

c. tundra.

d. tropical rain forest.

Which of the following describes the location of the tundra

biome?a. East coast of the U.S.

b. Just north of the United States

c. North of Canada

d. Central America

Which of the following describes the location of the tundra

biome?a. East coast of the U.S.

b. Just north of the United States

c. North of Canada

d. Central America

Leaves change colors on ____ trees in autumn.

a.coniferous c. deciduous

b.permafrost d. abiotic

Leaves change colors on ____ trees in autumn.

a.coniferous c. deciduous

b.permafrost d. abiotic

A ____ is a tropical grassland with scattered clumps of trees.

a.prairie c. pampas

b.savanna d. steppe

A ____ is a tropical grassland with scattered clumps of trees.

a.prairie c. pampas

b. savanna d. steppe

Salt and fresh water mix in

a.an estuary. c. a coral reef.

b.the Sargasso Sea. d. the benthic zone.

Salt and fresh water mix in

a.an estuary. c. a coral reef.

b.the Sargasso Sea. d. the benthic zone.

Ecology and Types of Interactions

Remember: Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Ecology and Types of Interactions

I. Ecologists have described three main ways that species and individuals affect each other.

A. Competition• When two or more

individuals or populations try to use the same limited resource.

A. Competition• These two trees

are competing for root space, sunlight, and water.

• Competition is bad for both because if one doesn’t receive enough resources, it may die.

1) Limited resource - scarce resources like water, food, space, even mates.

2) Carrying Capacity the number of individuals that an environment can support; controlled by competition for limited resources and predator/prey interactions.

What has caused the population to level out?

Carrying Capacity

B. Predator and Prey

• The interaction of one individual eating another.

Prey1. Prey- organism that is eaten. Prey

adaptations include advantages that help prey hide themselves or escape predators.

Predator2. Predator- organism that eats the prey.

Predator adaptations include advantages over the prey that help predators catch their prey.

Prey Adaptations

i. Mimicry - the ability of some creatures to imitate others, either by sound or appearance for protective purposes

ii. Camouflage - Protective coloring or another feature that conceals an animal and enables it to blend into its surroundings.

iii. Warning Coloration Bright colors and patterns that warn potential predators of the potential risk that would come from attacking or eating it.

Predator Prey Relationships

Consumers are Divided into Five Categories

• ----------------- consumer that eats plants.

Consumers are Divided into Five Categories

• Herbivore consumer that eats plants.

• ---------------- consumer that eats animals.

Carnivore

Consumers are Divided into Five Categories

• Herbivore- consumer that eats plants.

• Carnivore- consumer that eats animals.

• ---------------- consumer that eats both plants and animals.

Omnivore

Consumers are Divided into Five Categories

• Herbivore- consumer that eats plants.

• Carnivore- consumer that eats animals.

• Omnivore- consumer that eats both plants and animals.

• ------------------ animals that feed on the bodies of dead animals.

Scavenger

Consumers are Divided into Five Categories

• Herbivore- consumer that eats plants.• Carnivore- consumer that eats animals.• Omnivore- consumer that eats both

plants and animals.• Scavengers- animals that feed on the

bodies of dead animals. • ____________ - organisms that get their

energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms.

Decomposers- Organisms that get their energy by breaking down the

remains of dead organisms.

Consumers are Divided into Five Categories

• Herbivore- consumer that eats plants.• Carnivore- consumer that eats animals.• Omnivore- consumer that eats both

plants and animals.• Scavengers- animals that feed on the

bodies of dead animals. • Decomposers- organisms that get their

energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms.

C. Symbiosis

• A long-term association between two or more species.

• There are three types we will be discussing

1. Mutualism• A relationship in which both organisms

benefit from each other.

• Cleaner shrimp cleaning a zebra moray eel. • Bacteria found in human large intestines.

2. Commensalism• A relationship in which one organism benefits

and the other is unaffected.

Remoras attach themselves to sharks and feed of the

scraps of food that the shark leaves behind.

3. Parasitism

• One organism benefits while the other is harmed.

The parasite is the organism that benefits in the relationship.

The host is harmed

Evolution is tied to the need for energy.

A. Evolution - the process in which organisms produce offspring which are biologically different than their ancestors, yet are more capable of surviving and producing offspring in the environment.