Ecological Relationships http://www.univie.ac.at/zoologie/ecophys/crabsp-300dpi.jpg http://www.cs.umbc.edu/courses/undergraduate/201/fall06/projects/p1/fox-rabbit.jpg How do biotic factors influence each other?
Ecological Relationships Biodiversity = the number of species in an ecosystem Territory = space claimed by an individual organism Ecological Equilibrium = state of balance in an ecosystem http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/environment/faqs/biodiversity.jpg
Ecological Relationships NICHE - Role of organism in the ecosystem (job) NICHE DIVERSITY Number of niches in an ecosystem; often determined by abiotic factors Abiotic = non-living A niche is the sum of all activities and relationships a species has while obtaining and using resources needed to survive and reproduce
Competition: When species or individuals fight for the same resources. E.g., Food, shelter. KEYSTONE PREDATOR/SPECIES - A predator that causes a large increase in diversity of its habitat. The fight may be indirect individuals may never directly contact each other. Losing a keystone species usually disrupts many ecological relationships. Two species with similar needs for same limited resources cannot coexist. http://www.butler.edu/herbarium/prairie/prairie42004.jpg
A fruit bat eating a papaya Herbivory: A primary consumer feeds on a producer. http://www.smilinglizard.com/1a291aa0.jpg http://images.inmagine.com/168nwm/creata s/cr15169/cr15169065.jpg A woodchuck eating wild clover
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/publications/zoogoer/2006/3/images/lion_zebra.jpg Predation: A consumer feeds on another consumer. An eagle eating halibut. A lion eating zebra. http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/clog/wpcontent/uploads/2007/06/close-up-bald-eagle-eating.jpg
http://www.floridastateparks.org/maclaygardens/images/wallpaper/1024-pl-mac-symbiosis-markferrulo.jpg Symbiosis: A long-term relationship where two species live closely together and at least one benefits directly from the relationship.
Mutualism: Both organisms benefit from the relationship. Win-Win situation! http://tumi-educational-resources.org/educational%20%20videos.htm
Pollination (Mutualism) Plants must attract the pollinator (insects, birds, bats, small mammals) for example, the flower may have a scent that the pollinator likes. http://www.nearctica.com/ecology/pops/mutual.htm Plant gets pollen transported and the pollinator gets nectar (a sugar rich solution) as a food source.
Mutualism Racoon and Poison Ivy The raccoon eats the berries of the poison ivy and disperses the seeds as it poops. Both benefit.
Commensalism One organism benefits, the other one is unaffected. Win-Neutral relationship
Commensalism Eastern Chipmunk and Soil mite The chipmunk is a mammal that burrows. The soil mite feeds off of leaf litter but cannot burrow itself. The mite uses the chipmunk s tunnels to travel from place to place. Copyright, Ray Norton
Commensalism Pear-shaped puffball gets opened (and spores dispersed) by Opossum Puffball benefits, opossum is not affected. Copyright, Leon Shernoff
Parasitism One organism benefits, the other one is harmed! Win-Lose relationship Parasites rarely kill their hosts it would require them to get another one!
Parasitism Dogwood tree is parasitized by honeysuckle. Michael Clayton, Wisconsin State Herbarium Department of Botany, Iowa St. University
Parasitism Bullfrog acts as a host of the big red worm parasite. Ohio State University
Ecological Relationships Biological Magnification Increasing concentration of poisons in organisms in higher trophic levels in a food chain or web. Many toxins in the water Many toxins in the person
Biological Magnificationaccumulation of increasing amounts of toxin within tissues of organisms. Video on Biological Magnification