Ecological Relationships & Symbiosis. Alabama Biology Objective Part 1 of objective #16 16. Identify...

Ecological Ecological RelationshipsRelationships

& & SymbiosisSymbiosis

Alabama Biology Alabama Biology ObjectiveObjective

Part 1 of objective #16Part 1 of objective #1616. Identify density-dependent and 16. Identify density-dependent and

density-independent limiting factors density-independent limiting factors that affect populations in an Ecosystemthat affect populations in an Ecosystem1.1. Density-dependentDensity-dependent—disease, predator-prey —disease, predator-prey

relationships, availability of food and water relationships, availability of food and water 2.2. Density-independentDensity-independent—natural disasters, —natural disasters,

climate, innate behaviors (migration), climate, innate behaviors (migration), human impacthuman impact

Part 2 of Objective #16Part 2 of Objective #16Symbiotic RelationshipsSymbiotic Relationships:: Discriminating Discriminating

among symbiotic relationships, including among symbiotic relationships, including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism

SymbiosisSymbiosis

A close relationship between two A close relationship between two species where at species where at least one least one of the of the organismsorganisms receives receives some kind ofsome kind of benefitbenefit (ex. food, shelter) (ex. food, shelter)

There are three types of Symbiosis:There are three types of Symbiosis: MutualismMutualism ParasitismParasitism CommensalismCommensalism

MutualismMutualism

Both organisms benefit, each species providing something needed by the other species.

Termites have protozoans that live in their gut and digest wood cellulose

Flowering plants and pollinating insects Plants provide food; insects cross-

pollinate

ParasitismParasitism

One Benefits, the other is HARMED Parasite relies on host for food Host is harmed, but usually not killed Endoparasites: live within host

viruses, microbes Ectoparasites: live outside of host

insects, mites, ticks

CommensalismCommensalism

One organism benefits, the other organism neither harmed nor benefited. (could care less.)

Whale & BarnaclesWhale & Barnacles

Whale and BarnaclesWhale and Barnacles

Barnacles attach to whale and Barnacles attach to whale and receives a homereceives a home

Whale is not benefited nor harmedWhale is not benefited nor harmed Which kind of symbiosis is this?Which kind of symbiosis is this?

Whale & BarnaclesWhale & BarnaclesCommensalismCommensalism

Lamprey and fishLamprey and fish


The lamprey, a jawless fish, attaches The lamprey, a jawless fish, attaches to other fish and feeds on their blood to other fish and feeds on their blood and tissuesand tissues

Fish does not die, but may be Fish does not die, but may be weakenedweakened

Which symbiotic relationship is this?Which symbiotic relationship is this?

Lamprey & FishLamprey & FishParasitismParasitism

Cleaner shrimp and fishCleaner shrimp and fish


Cleaner shrimp removes parasites Cleaner shrimp removes parasites from fish, then eats the parasitesfrom fish, then eats the parasites

Fish now has fewer parasites that Fish now has fewer parasites that could cause it harmcould cause it harm

Which symbiotic relationship is this?Which symbiotic relationship is this?

Cleaner Shrimp & FishCleaner Shrimp & FishMutualismMutualism

Deer and TicksDeer and Ticks

White-tailed deer and White-tailed deer and ticktick

Ticks live in tall grasses and attach to Ticks live in tall grasses and attach to the bodies of passing deer and other the bodies of passing deer and other animalsanimals

Tick requires blood meals from the Tick requires blood meals from the deer to reproducedeer to reproduce

Deer can be weakened from the tick Deer can be weakened from the tick feeding on itfeeding on it

What form of symbiosis is this?What form of symbiosis is this?

Deer and TicksDeer and TicksParasitismParasitism

Lyme disease and deer Lyme disease and deer ticks ticks

Lyme disease Lyme disease occurs when ticks occurs when ticks infected with a infected with a certain bacteria bite certain bacteria bite humanshumans

Symptoms include Symptoms include include fever, include fever, headache, fatigue, headache, fatigue, depression, and a depression, and a characteristic skin characteristic skin rash rash

Remora & SharkRemora & Shark

Shark and Remora fishShark and Remora fish

Remora attaches to shark’s body and Remora attaches to shark’s body and travels with shark feeding on food travels with shark feeding on food scraps from the shark’s mealsscraps from the shark’s meals

Shark not benefited nor harmedShark not benefited nor harmed What kind of symbiosis would this What kind of symbiosis would this

be?be?

Shark & Remora FishShark & Remora FishCommensalismCommensalism

Acacia Tree and AntsAcacia Tree and Ants

Acacia tree and AntsAcacia tree and Ants

The ants live and feed in special The ants live and feed in special nodes of the acacia tree nodes of the acacia tree

The ants protect the tree by The ants protect the tree by swarming and attacking humans and swarming and attacking humans and other animals that might try to eat other animals that might try to eat from the treefrom the tree

What is the relationship here?What is the relationship here?

Acacia Tree and Ants Acacia Tree and Ants MutualismMutualism

Yucca Plant & Yucca Yucca Plant & Yucca MothMoth

Yucca flowers are pollinated by Yucca flowers are pollinated by Yucca moths. The moths lay Yucca moths. The moths lay their eggs in the flowers where their eggs in the flowers where the larvae hatch and eat some the larvae hatch and eat some of the developing seeds.of the developing seeds.

Both benefit from living Both benefit from living together.together.

Yucca Plant & Yucca MothYucca Plant & Yucca Moth MutualismMutualism

Oxpecker & RhinocerousOxpecker & Rhinocerous

The Fable of the Rhino and the Oxpecker http://barryjnorthern.blogspot.com/2010/01/fable-of-rhino-and-oxpecker.html

Oxpeckers feed on the ticks Oxpeckers feed on the ticks found on a rhinoceros. found on a rhinoceros.

Both species benefit.Both species benefit.

Oxpecker & RhinocerousOxpecker & Rhinocerous Mutualism Mutualism

Honey Badger & Honey Guide Bird

Honey guide birds alert & Honey guide birds alert & direct badgers to bee hives. direct badgers to bee hives. The badgers then expose the The badgers then expose the hives & feed on the honey hives & feed on the honey first. Then the honey guide first. Then the honey guide birds eat. birds eat.


Honey Badger & Honey Guide Bird

Mutualism Mutualism

Gazelle & OstrichGazelle & Ostrich

Ostriches & gazelles feed next Ostriches & gazelles feed next to each other. They both watch to each other. They both watch for predators & alert each other for predators & alert each other to danger. Since the visual to danger. Since the visual abilities of the 2 species are abilities of the 2 species are different, they can identify different, they can identify threats the other animal would threats the other animal would not as readily see. not as readily see.


Black Sea Bass & Wrasse Black Sea Bass & Wrasse FishFish

MutualismMutualism

Wrasse fish feed on the Wrasse fish feed on the parasites found on the parasites found on the black sea basses body. black sea basses body. Both species benefit.Both species benefit.

Wrasse FishWrasse Fish Black Sea Bass & Black Sea Bass &

odd looking odd looking Homo Homo sapiensapien

CommensalismCommensalismBlack Sea Bass & Wrasse Black Sea Bass & Wrasse

FishFish

Cuckoo Bird & Warbler Cuckoo Bird & Warbler BirdBird

A cuckoo may lay its A cuckoo may lay its eggs in a Warbler’s nest. eggs in a Warbler’s nest. The cuckoo’s young will The cuckoo’s young will displace the warbler’s displace the warbler’s young and will be raised young and will be raised by the warbler.by the warbler.


ParasitismParasitism

Parasitism -Warbler raising Parasitism -Warbler raising cuckoos cuckoos

Mistletoe & Spruce TreeMistletoe & Spruce Tree

Mistletoe extracts water and Mistletoe extracts water and nutrients from the spruce nutrients from the spruce tree to the tree’s detriment.tree to the tree’s detriment.

Mistletoe & Spruce treeMistletoe & Spruce treeParasitismParasitism

Kissing under the Kissing under the MistletoeMistletoe

According to a custom of Christmas cheer, any two people who According to a custom of Christmas cheer, any two people who meet under a hanging of mistletoe are obliged to kiss. The meet under a hanging of mistletoe are obliged to kiss. The custom is of Scandinavian origin.custom is of Scandinavian origin.

In Norse mythology, Baldr was a god of vegetation. In Norse mythology, Baldr was a god of vegetation. His mother, Frigga, dreamt that the mischievous god Loki His mother, Frigga, dreamt that the mischievous god Loki

and a blind god Höðr, would run a spear through her son. To and a blind god Höðr, would run a spear through her son. To prevent this, she made every plant, animal, and inanimate prevent this, she made every plant, animal, and inanimate object promise not to harm her son Baldr. object promise not to harm her son Baldr.

The story goes that Frigga overlooked the mistletoe plant, so The story goes that Frigga overlooked the mistletoe plant, so Loki was able to trick the blind god into killing her son Baldr, Loki was able to trick the blind god into killing her son Baldr, with a spear fashioned from mistletoe. with a spear fashioned from mistletoe.

Baldr's death brought winter into the world, until the gods Baldr's death brought winter into the world, until the gods restored him to life. restored him to life.

Then Frigga declared the mistletoe sacred, ordering that Then Frigga declared the mistletoe sacred, ordering that from now on it should bring love rather than death into the from now on it should bring love rather than death into the world. world.

Happily complying with Frigga's wishes, any two people Happily complying with Frigga's wishes, any two people passing under the plant from now on would celebrate Baldr's passing under the plant from now on would celebrate Baldr's resurrection by kissing under the mistletoe.resurrection by kissing under the mistletoe.

Benefits and Ecological Benefits and Ecological Importance of MistletoeImportance of Mistletoe

A broad array of animals depend on mistletoe A broad array of animals depend on mistletoe for food, consuming the leaves and young for food, consuming the leaves and young shoots, transferring pollen between plants, shoots, transferring pollen between plants, and dispersing the sticky seeds. and dispersing the sticky seeds.

The sticky juice of mistletoe berries was used The sticky juice of mistletoe berries was used as adhesive to trap small animals or birds. as adhesive to trap small animals or birds.

A study of mistletoe in junipers concluded that A study of mistletoe in junipers concluded that more juniper berries sprout in stands where more juniper berries sprout in stands where mistletoe is present, as the mistletoe attracts mistletoe is present, as the mistletoe attracts berry-eating birds which also eat juniper berry-eating birds which also eat juniper berries.berries.

Mouse & FleasMouse & Fleas ParasitismParasitism

A flea feeds on the mouse’s A flea feeds on the mouse’s blood to the mouse’s blood to the mouse’s detriment.detriment.

Silverfish & Army Ants


Silver fish live with and hunt Silver fish live with and hunt with army ants. They share the with army ants. They share the prey. They neither help nor prey. They neither help nor harm the ants.harm the ants.

Marabou Stork and BeeMarabou Stork and Bee


The stork uses it saw-like The stork uses it saw-like bill to cut up the dead bill to cut up the dead animals it eats. As a result, animals it eats. As a result, the dead animal carcass is the dead animal carcass is accessible to some bees for accessible to some bees for food and for egg laying.food and for egg laying.

Buffalo (herbivores) & Buffalo (herbivores) & CowbirdCowbird


As buffalos walk through As buffalos walk through grass, insects become active grass, insects become active and are seen and eaten by and are seen and eaten by cowbirds. This neither harms cowbirds. This neither harms nor benefits the buffalos.nor benefits the buffalos.

Buffalo (herbivores) & Buffalo (herbivores) & CowbirdCowbird

Snail Shell & Hermit Snail Shell & Hermit CrabCrab

Hermit crabs live in shells Hermit crabs live in shells made & then abandoned by made & then abandoned by snails. This neither harms or snails. This neither harms or benefits the snails.benefits the snails.