Animal Interactions and Symbioses

Predation

• Any animal that either totally or partly consumes a plant or other animal

• A “True Predator” kills and eats another animal

Parasitism

• A parasite spends most, or all of its life living on or in another organism, the Host

• Parasite obtains nourishment from host tissues

• The host may be weakened but usually does not die

Parasitoid

• An insect that lays eggs on a host

• Larvae hatch and feed off of the host

• Host may eventually die, but not until larvae has obtained all its nutrients

Herbivore

• Animal that eats only plants

• Granivores = seed eaters only

• Grazers = eat grasses

• Browsers = Eat leaves

Carnivore

• Eats meat (herbivores or carnivores)

Omnivore

• Eats both plants and animals

Symbiosis

• Describes two species that live together in close contact during a portion (or all) of their lives

Mutualism

• A relationship where both species benefit from the interaction with each other

Commensalism

• One species benefits, while the second species is neither helped nor harmed

Parasitism

• The parasite benefits form the living arrangement while the host is harmed

Coevolution

• Inherited traits that allow prey to successfully evade predators

• Inherited traits that allow predators to more successfully capture prey

• NATURAL SELECTION LEADS TO THE COEVOLUTION OF PREDATOR AND PREY

• Evolution of one species in response to another

Secondary Compounds

• Toxic chemicals produced by plants that discourage herbivores from eating them

Tobacco Plant - Nicotine

Camouflage

• Also called Cryptic Coloration

• Any color, pattern, shape, or behavior that enables an animal to blend in with its surroundings

Can you find me?

Can you find me?

Can you find me?

Can you find me?

Can you find me?

Can you find me?

Can you find me?

Can you find me?

Can you find me?

Can you find me?

Can you find me?

Aposematic Coloration

• Warning Coloration

• A conspicuous pattern or color in an animal that warns predators that they sting, bite, taste bad, or otherwise should be avoided

Mimicry

• Two or more species resemble one another in appearance

• Mullerian Mimicry = when several animals, all with some special defense mechanism, all share the same coloration. More easily learned by predators

Mimicry• Batesian Mimicry = when an animal

without any special defense mechanism takes on the coloration pattern of an animal that does possess a defense

Coral Snake vs. Milk Snake