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