Relationships within an Ecosystem…
Relationships within an Ecosystem…. NICHE. WHAT AN ORGANISM (POPULATION) DOES THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT AFFECT A POPULATION THINK OF IT AS THE OCCUPATION OF THE POPULATION TWO SPECIES WITH THE SAME NICHE CANNOT SHARE THE SAME HABITAT HABITAT IS THE PLACE WHERE THEY LIVE
Relationships within an Ecosystem…
E N D
Presentation Transcript
NICHE • WHAT AN ORGANISM (POPULATION) DOES • THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT AFFECT A POPULATION • THINK OF IT AS THE OCCUPATION OF THE POPULATION • TWO SPECIES WITH THE SAME NICHE CANNOT SHARE THE SAME HABITAT • HABITAT IS THE PLACE WHERE THEY LIVE • HUMANS AND NEANDERTHALS?
HABITAT • WHERE THE ORGANISM LIVES • THINK OF IT AS THE ADDRESS FOR THE ORGANISM • INCLUDED WITHIN THE NICHE • A COMBINATION OF PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
SYMBIOSIS ORGANISMS LIVING TOGETHER IMPLIES SOME SORT OF TIGHT RELATIONSHIP RELATIONSHIP MAY BENEFIT ONE PARASITISM COMMENSALISM OR BOTH MUTUALISM
PARASITIC STRATEGIES • One creature benefits, and the other is harmed • Maximize host ability to support parasite • Only kill host after all resources sequestered • Good parasites don’t kill host • Parasites may evolve to become less harmful • Can you think of an example of Parasitism in your life??
MUTUALISM • Interactions where both species benefit • May evolve from parasitic situations • Part of a continuum • Mutualistic situations may become obligate • ENDOSYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS PROBABLY EVOLVED VIA THIS ROUTE
Mutualism – Ant and Aphid http://www.richsoil.com/antsandaphids/ants_aphids_sugar.jpg
The Aphid and the Ant • Aphids feed on the sap of the plant they are on. • Ants use their antennae to stimulate the aphids and cause them to excrete from their abdomen a substance called honeydew which is rich in the nutrients ants require. • Each worker ant goes from aphid to aphid collecting honeydew which she stores in her abdomen until it's full; then, she returns to the nest and regurgitates to feed other members of the colony. • Ants, in return for the honeydew, protect the aphids from predators such as flies, wasps, and beetles. • The ants, like human ranchers, sometimes move their aphids to richer grazing grounds. • YUMMY!
A Little Aphid Ant Humor http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/Dr-Fun/inline/thumbs/tn20001013.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/ar00295.htm&h=190&w=258&sz=20&hl=en&start=9&tbnid=5x78fixpPQkJAM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=112&prev=/images%3Fq%3Daphid%2Bant%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN
COMMENSALISM • One benefits • The other unaffected • Can grade into parasitism • Remora on shark/whale • Can grade into mutualism • Slightly helping your commensal may be of benefit • Can you think of an example of commensalism in your life??
Cattle Egret - Commensalism The cattle stir up grasshoppers and other insects that the egret likes to eat. There is no apparent benefit to the cow. http://mishami.image.pbase.com/u43/jypsee/upload/27771434.anguswithegret.jpg
SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS FORM A CONTINUUM FROM MUTUALISM TO PARASITISM (WHICH MAY BE DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH FROM PREDATION)
WARNING AND MIMICRY • Predator deterrent evolves • Warning • color of bees & wasps • coral snakes • monarch butterflies • Convergence in warning – Mullerian Mimicry • Copy the warning without the deterrent Batesian Mimicry • moths & flies • king snakes • viceroy butterfly
CRYPSIS • Look like something inedible or inert • Be invisible • jellyfish • silvery fishes • Nocturnal behavior