Scribd
Upload
568 views20 pages

Interactions Within Ecosystems

1. The document discusses interactions between organisms within ecosystems, which can be organized into five levels: biome, ecosystem, community, population, and organism. 2. Organisms interact in various ways, including predator-prey relationships, competition, cooperation, and symbiosis (mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism). 3. Ecosystems are dynamic and change over time through processes like succession as populations and environmental conditions fluctuate.

Uploaded by

MELISSA MORENO
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
568 views20 pages

Interactions Within Ecosystems

1. The document discusses interactions between organisms within ecosystems, which can be organized into five levels: biome, ecosystem, community, population, and organism. 2. Organisms interact in various ways, including predator-prey relationships, competition, cooperation, and symbiosis (mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism). 3. Ecosystems are dynamic and change over time through processes like succession as populations and environmental conditions fluctuate.

Uploaded by

MELISSA MORENO
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 20

Interactions Within

Ecosystems

http://www.kidsgeo.com/images/ecosystem.jpg
Groups of living things interact
within ecosystems
 The environment can be organized into five levels
1. Biome : region with similar climate, types of
plants, and animals
2. Ecosystem: The living and non-living things that
interact in one environment.
3. Community: The living organisms of an
ecosystem
4. Population: A group of organisms of the same
species that live in the same area.
5. Organism: A single living thing, made up of one or
many cells, that is capable of growing and
reproducing.
Patterns Exist in Populations
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/90/208997985_692784c75f.jpg

 Patterns in Living
Space
Animals in a habitat
are located based on
food supplies, water,
and shelter
locations.

Some animals live in


large groups for
safety ( fish and
elephants )
http://www.biology-blog.com/images/blogs/3-2007/the-majestic-elephants-of-southern.jpg
 Patterns in Time
Population sizes can change with seasons
Many organisms migrate to other areas
(monarch butterflies and birds)

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/monarch/monarch13.jpg
Organisms Interact in Different Ways
 Organisms may cooperate, compete, or
depend on each other for survival

 Predator and Prey relationships


Predators can affect how the prey populations
are distributed (fish in large groups)
Prey can affect the location and number in
predator populations (birds feeding on insects
migrate to the areas where the insects are
plentiful)
Organisms Interact in Different Ways

 Competition
Competition is the
struggle between
individuals or
different
populations for a
limited resource

http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=95240&rendTypeId=4
Competition can
happen with the
same species (plants
compete for light,
space, and nutrients)

Competition
between different
species (hyenas and
vultures compete for
remains of dead http://www.duiops.net/seresvivos/galeria/hienas/hyena-and-whitebacked-vultures-
01301147b.jpg

animals)
Organisms Interact in Different Ways
 Cooperation
 Some organisms work
together to benefit each
other
Killer whales hunt in pods
(groups)

Ants, bees, and termites


(members of a colony
have different roles and http://www.apitherapy.com.au/contents/media/l_bee%20pollen%20dw.jpg

responsibilities…queen
bee, worker bees, etc.)
Survival of One Species Might Depend
on Another Species
 Symbiosis: two different species who live
together in a close relationship

Both species benefit

One species benefits while the other is not


affected

One species benefits while the other is harmed


Types of Symbiosis
 Mutualism: Two species interacting with each
other that benefits both species. (bees and
flowers)

http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/bee_flower.jpg
Types of Symbiosis

 Commensalism: two
species interacting
with each other with
one species
benefiting and the
other unaffected.
(jellyfish and fish)

http://www.immediart.com/catalog/images/big_images/SPL_R_Z140032-Jellyfish_with_fish-SPL.jpg
Types of Symbiosis
 Parasitism: two species interacting while one
species benefits and the host species is harmed

 Examples of human parasites.

http://www.gifam.org/pic006.htm
Populations Change Over Time
 Population growth and
decline
Predator-prey
interactions can affect
population increase or
decrease ( as a wolf
population increases
the moose population
decreases)
Birth rate may decline
or increase http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2007/10/071019183055-large.jpg
Populations Change Over Time
Limiting factors:
any factor or
condition that limits
the growth of a
population in an
ecosystem (food,
water, light, large
group of predators,
small group of
prey)

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education/homestudy/wildlife/wildlife/limit.phtml?print=true
Maintaining a Balance in an Ecosystem
 Carrying Capacity: the maximum number of
individuals that an ecosystem can support.
 Limiting factors affect the carrying capacity
http://www.hunter-ed.com/images/graphics/carrying_capacity_chart.gif
Ecosystems change over time
 Succession: the gradual change in an ecosystem
in which one biological community is replaced by
another.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/urbanscout/succession-subsistence-1.jpg
Primary Succession
 Primary succession: The establishment of a new
biological community in an area of bare rocks.
(plants moving in after a lava flow or glacier retreats)

http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=95197&rendTypeId=36
Secondary Succession
 Secondary Succession: Occurs after a
major disturbance happens and the soil
still remains. (forest fire)

http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=95198&rendTypeId=36
Main Points on Organism Interactions
in Ecosystems
 Groups of living things interact within
ecosystems (biome, ecosystem,
community, population, organism)

 Organisms can interact in different ways


(symbiosis: mutualism, commensalism,
parasitism)

 Ecosystems are always changing (primary


and secondary succession)

You might also like