Species Interactions Crash Course

Goal: By the end of this course you will understand how species interact in their ecosystems.

Producer

An organism that uses sunlight’s energy, to make chemical energy.

• Producers use photosynthesis to make energy.• Is usually the prey

Examples: Seaweed, phytoplankton, grass, trees

Consumer

Organisms that get there energy by eating or consuming other organisms.

• Have different categories Primary, Secondary, Teritiary

• Classified by there position in a feeding relationship.

Examples: deer, insects, and antelope

Decomposer

An organism, usually a bacterial or fungus, that breaks down the cells of dead plants and animals into nutrients to be recycled for use again.

• Fungi is a primary decomposer • bacteria are important decomposers they are

widely disturbed and can break down.

Examples: worms, fungi

Scavengers

Animals that eat the carcasses of other dead organisms.

• A cross between carnivores and herbivores.• Feeds off of dead flesh

Examples: Flesh Fly, Vultures, Wolves, Hyenas

Cooperation

Cooperation is a friendly interaction inside a community.

• When organisms work together to benefit them all.

• Some predators cooperate when they hunt.

Competition

Competition is the struggle between individuals or different populations for a limited resource (food, water, sunlight, space)

• Plants compete for light, space, and nutrients• Occurs between and within a species• Occurs between and within all species

populations that share the same resources

Mutualism

Mutualism is the way two organisms of different species biologically interact in a relationship in which each individual derives a benefit.

• The Red Billed Ox Picker picks ticks off Impala’s coat.

Commensalism

An interaction between 2 species in which one species benefits without harming the other.

• Very common in ocean ecosystems.• Not all commensalism relationships involve

food, some give protection.• For example some fish protect themselves by

swimming among the stinging tentacles of the moon jellyfish.

Parasitism

A relationship between organisms of different species where one organism benefits at the expense of the other.

• Parasites impact the health of the host and can cause death

• Examples: Viruses, bacteria, hookworms

Predator and Prey Interactions

• Predators can effect prey populations.

Examples: More wolves in an area, less deer

More primary consumers, less producers

Game Directions

• Get the fortune teller • You will need your own piece of paper .• Choose a number on the top of the fortune teller.• After you have moved the fortune teller the

number of times you have to choose a number that’s inside and lift it up.

• Under it will be a question answer it on your paper.