Ecological RelationshipsUNIT FIVE, LESSON 5.3BY MARGIELENE D. JUDAN

LESSON OUTLINEEcological RelationshipsSymbiosis

Different species of organisms within the community interact with each other as a part of their ecological niche. Types of interaction:Organism of same speciesOrganism of different species

ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPSPertain to the interaction between or among two different species of organisms.

ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPSIncludes the following:1. Symbiosis2. Predation3. Competition4. Cooperation

SYMBIOSISType of relationship between two diff. organisms where one benefits and the other is unaffected or affected, or both of them benefit.

SYMBIOSISKinds of Symbiotic Interactions:1. Mutualism2. Commensalism3. Parasitism

1. MutualismReferred to as the “perfect relationship”Two organisms both benefit from each other

1. MutualismExamples:The bee and the flowerBees fly from flower to flower gathering nectar, which they make into food, benefiting the bees. When they land in a flower, the bees get some pollen on their hairy bodies, and when they land in the next flower, some of the pollen from the first one rubs off, pollinating the plant. This benefits the plants. In this mutualistic relationship, the bees get to eat, and the flowering plants get to reproduce.

1. MutualismExamples:The bacteria and the humanA certain kind of bacteria lives in the intestines of humans and many other animals. The human cannot digest all of the food that it eats. The bacteria eat the food that the human cannot digest and partially digest it, allowing the human to finish the job. The bacteria benefit by getting food, and the human benefits by being able to digest the food it eats.

1. MutualismIn some cases, two different species of became one, which if separate, both of them will die. This happens in lichens. Lichens are produced because of the mutualistic relation bet. An alga and a fungus. Thus fungus protects the alga from harsh temperature change while the alga nurtures the fungus.

2. CommensalismOne organism benefits while the other is not affected

2. CommensalismExample:Anemone and clownfishClownfish lives in the tentacles of the anemones which protects them from predators. Predators are poisoned by the nematocysts of the anemones. The clownfish benefits but the anemone is neither affected.

3. ParasitismOne organism benefits while the other is affectedParasites – organisms that benefitHost – organisms affected

3. ParasitismThere are two types of parasites:1. Endoparasites (inside) – ex. worms in he intestine2. Ectoparasites (outside) – ex. mosquitoes sucking

blood from your skinAnother example: Students become parasites by always asking for a sheet of paper to those who have.

PREDATIONOne species of organisms harm or eat the other species of organisms.Especially common among carnivores.Predator – organisms that harm or eatPrey – organisms being harmed or eaten

COMPETITIONOrganisms tend to compete for food, shelter, and the like.Types of competition:1. Intraspecific – bet. 2 same

species 2. Interspecific – bet. 2

different species

COMPETITIONExamples:Intraspecific – two deer competes for spaceInterspecific – different species of plants compete for sunlight; a cat and a dog compete for food

COOPERATIONOrganisms cooperate with each otherEx. (working ants, humans, herds of cattle arrange themselves so that the strongest are on the outside)

Animals are social beings too. Another benefit that social living brings is the division of labor. It is quite common among insects.

For instance, in a colony of honeybees, only the queen is allowed in a hive at any time. Her only function for her lifetime is to produce eggs. The male bees, called drones, serve merely as the queen’s mates and eventually are driven out of the hive or killed. The sterile female workers perform all the tasks needed to maintain the colony and attend to the needs of the queen. Some workers look for food; other build and clean the hive and guard it from intruders. Notice the division in labor.

Output: Write Up (1/2 sheet of paper)Which of the following ecological relationships do you like best and why? Give practical examples. Minimum of 5 sentences. (10 pts)

Assignment: Bond paper (short) Lab 2.3Answer “Check Your Understanding”, p. 183, #2

Sources:Science Links 7http://www.necsi.edu/projects/evolution/co-evolution/mutualistic/co-evolution_mutualistic.htmlhttp://examples.yourdictionary.com/commensalism-examples.html