Ecological relationships

EcologicalRelationships

Saturday, September 7, 13

❊ Ecology❊ The study of the interaction of populations of living

organisms with other populations and with the environment



organisms with other populations and with the environment❊ Population




❊A group of individuals, all of the same species









❊ Community





❊ Community❊A group of different populations











❊ Abiotic factors






❊ Abiotic factors

❊Oxygen concentration, salinity, temperature, rainfall, etc.


Symbiotic Relationships


❊Symbiosis❊A relationship between two species

❊Usually involves close physical contact



❊ The major types are , , , and relationships








mutualism






mutualismcommensalism






mutualismcommensalism parasitism






mutualismcommensalism parasitism

predator-prey





❊ Mutualism

❊A symbiotic relationship between two species

in which both species benefit



❊ Mutualism


in which both species benefit

EXAMPLE:❊ Microbes in the stomach of cattle

are responsible for the digestion of cellulose (fiber in grass & hay)

❊The cattle benefit because they use the glucose from the cellulose

digestion❊ The microbes benefit because they

get a warm, moist, protected place to live and all they food they need





❊ Commensalism❊A symbiotic relationship between two species

❊ In which one species benefits, and the other species is neither helped nor harmed



❊ Commensalism❊A symbiotic relationship between two species

❊ In which one species benefits, and the other species is neither helped nor harmed

EXAMPLE:❊ The worms benefit because

they get to travel through nutrient-rich waters as the sea

turtle swims around (worms attached to the docks are

stuck there)❊ There is no direct benefit to

the turtle having worms stuck on its back, nor does there seem to be any harm done

Loggerhead turtle & sea worms





❊ Parasitism


❊ In which one species benefits, and the other species is harmed

❊The species that benefits is called a parasite, and is typically much smaller than the other species (the host)



❊ Parasitism


❊ In which one species benefits, and the other species is harmed

❊The species that benefits is called a parasite, and is typically much smaller than the other species (the host)

❊ Example: ❊ microorganisms that cause

disease in humans, animals, and plants





❊ Predator-prey


❊ In which one species captures & kills the other species for food

❊The species are generally about equal in size

❊The term is usually applied to animal species (or certain types of protozoan species)



❊ Predator-prey


❊ In which one species captures & kills the other species for food

❊The species are generally about equal in size

❊The term is usually applied to animal species (or certain types of protozoan species)❊ Example:

❊ Lions and wildebeests, Owl

and mouse



Cattle with cattle egretsCattle stir up insects as they eat grass



What do the cattle get?

What do the egrets get?


Commensalism: one benefits, one is unaffected


What do the cattle get?

What do the egrets get?


Moray Eel with Cleaner Fish



What does the Moray Eel get?

What does the Cleaner Fish get?


Mutualism: both benefit


What does the Moray Eel get?

What does the Cleaner Fish get?


Taenia worm in human eyeWorm infects human blood stream

Human may go blind


What does the human get? What does the worm get?


Human may go blind


What does the human get? What does the worm get?


Human may go blind

Parasitism: one benefits and the other is harmed


Clown fish with anemone

Clown fish gets protection Anemone is unaffected


Clown fish with anemone

Clown fish gets protection Anemone is unaffected

Commensalism


Antelope with Oxbird

Antelope gets rid of parasites Oxbird gets a meal


Antelope with Oxbird

Antelope gets rid of parasites Oxbird gets a meal

Mutualism


A True Story...


A baby hippopotamus that survived the

tsunami waves on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male tortoise. The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing

about 300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean, then

forced back to shore when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26, 2005

before wildlife rangers rescued him.


A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very happy with being a

'mother'," ecologist Paula Kahumbu

“It is incredible…


"After it was

swept and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a surrogate

mother. Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and

established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together," the ecologist added.


The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother. If

somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if

protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.


What type of relationship do the hippo and the tortoise have?

Explain your answer.


Technology

Ecological relationships