Relationships in Ecosystems

Populations

• All of the same species in an ecosystem

www.nkf-mt.org.uk

www.intrasystems.gr

Competition

• All living things compete for– Food– Space

• Competition limits population growth

www.opim.wharton.upenn.edu

Limiting Factors

• Anything that restricts or controls the number of individuals in a population

www.bahamascommerce.com

Carrying Capacity

• The largest number of individuals of one species an ecosystem can support

www.wwt.org.uk

Symbiosis

• Any close relationship between species

en.wikipedia.org

Mutualism

• A relationship in which both species benefit

Cleaner fish

Pollination

Lichens: Algae + Fungus

www.biology.clc.uc.edu

www.orn.mpg.de www4.tpgi.com.au

Commensalism

• A relationship in which one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed

Barnacles on whaleShark & remora

www.community.webshots.com www.cbu.edu

Parasitism

• A relationship in which one organisms benefits and the other is harmed

TickMistletoe

www.oznet.ksu.edu www.wcosf.org

Predator - Prey

• Predators are consumers that capture and eat other consumers, called prey

http://www.uga.edu

Cooperation

• Organisms working together toward a common end or purpose

http://forger.ca/ http://special.newsroom.msu.edu

BIODIVERSITY(Biological Diversity)

• Biodiversity is the level of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet.

• Biodiversity is a measure (sign) of the health of ecosystems. Greater biodiversity implies greater health.

• Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. Tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions support fewer species.