Ecology Notes #2Ecology Notes #2

Symbiotic RelationshipsSymbiotic Relationships

Food WebsFood Webs

Food ChainsFood Chains

SYMBIOTIC SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPSRELATIONSHIPS

Symbiotic Relationships:Symbiotic Relationships:An IntroductionAn Introduction

Click on the picture Click on the picture of the leaf cutter at of the leaf cutter at the left or on this link the left or on this link to view a video about to view a video about symbiosis.symbiosis.

Leaf cutter video (large version)

Symbiotic RelationshipsSymbiotic Relationships

Definition: Definition: Relationship where 2 species Relationship where 2 species live closely together. live closely together.

The word symbiosis can be broken down The word symbiosis can be broken down into two parts to determine its meaning.into two parts to determine its meaning. symsym means together (like in the words sympathy means together (like in the words sympathy

and symphony)and symphony) biobio mean life (like in the words biology and mean life (like in the words biology and

biome)biome)

Types of Types of SymbiosisSymbiosis

Relationship Type Species A Species B

Mutualism + +

Commensalism + 0

Parasitism + -

MutualismMutualism

Relationship where Relationship where BOTH species BOTH species BENEFIT!BENEFIT!

A + / + relationship.A + / + relationship. Think of a normal Think of a normal

friendship where friendship where both friends gain both friends gain something from the something from the friendship.friendship.

Mutualism Example. . . Mutualism Example. . . Sharks are cleaned Sharks are cleaned

by a little fish by a little fish known as a known as a Remora. The shark Remora. The shark never eats them never eats them since they clean since they clean bacteria off of the bacteria off of the shark. Since both shark. Since both species are helped, species are helped, this is mutualism. this is mutualism.

CommensalismCommensalism

Commensalism is Commensalism is where one species where one species benefits while the benefits while the second species second species remains unaffected.remains unaffected.

A + / 0 relationshipA + / 0 relationship Think of a friendship Think of a friendship

where one of the where one of the friends benefits while friends benefits while the other doesn’t the other doesn’t change.change.

Barnacles adhering to the skin of a whale

ParasitismParasitism

Parasitism is the Parasitism is the situation where one situation where one organism benefits organism benefits while the other is while the other is harmed.harmed.

A + / - relationship.A + / - relationship. Think of a friendship Think of a friendship

where you might feel where you might feel used by your friend.used by your friend.

Video ExamplesVideo Examples

Example website Example website with videos: with videos: http://www.vtaide.com/png/symbiosis.htm

• PredationPredation- an interaction in which one organism - an interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism.captures and feeds on another organism.

CompetitionCompetition- - occurs when occurs when organisms attempt to organisms attempt to use an ecological use an ecological resource in the same resource in the same place.place.

For PracticeFor PracticeA lichen is a combination of two organisms, an A lichen is a combination of two organisms, an algae and a fungus. The fungus gets its food algae and a fungus. The fungus gets its food from the algae while the algae gets water from from the algae while the algae gets water from the fungus. This is an example of which the fungus. This is an example of which relationship?relationship?

a)a) CompetitionCompetition

b)b) MutualismMutualism

c)c) ParasitismParasitism

d)d) CommensalismCommensalism

35 35 Clown fish are small reef fish that seek Clown fish are small reef fish that seek protection from predators by sheltering protection from predators by sheltering themselves among the stinging tentacles of sea themselves among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones. Clown fish are very territorial and anemones. Clown fish are very territorial and can potentially scare off predators of sea can potentially scare off predators of sea anemones. This relationship is an example of --anemones. This relationship is an example of --

A A neutralismneutralism

BB mutualism mutualism

C C parasitismparasitism

D D commensalismcommensalism

This is not a type of symbiosis Incorrect

Neither is harmed so this is incorrect

Means only one is being helped and the relationship has no effect on the other – also incorrect

Since both are helped, it is of mutual benefit or

A predatory

B parasitic

C commensalistic

D mutualistic

Beechdrops (Epifagus virginiana) are leafless plants that lack chlorophyll. Beechdrops get their nourishment from the roots of beech trees, which reduces the amount of nutrients available to the trees themselves. This interaction is best described as —

What is helped?

Both the ants and the tree.

This is the definition of:

FOOD WEBS and FOOD FOOD WEBS and FOOD CHAINSCHAINS

Eat or be eatenEat or be eaten Here are some Here are some

important terms that important terms that will help you describe will help you describe interactions in a food interactions in a food web.web.

1. Producer (1. Producer (autoautotrophtroph)) *can make its own food *can make its own food *forms the base of the *forms the base of the

food webfood web

Mmmmm…delicious.Mmmmm…delicious.

2. Consumer (2. Consumer (heteroheterotrophtroph)) cannot make its own foodcannot make its own food

There are several words that describe consumers…There are several words that describe consumers… PreyPrey: the hunted: the hunted PredatorPredator: the hunter: the hunter Scavenger:Scavenger: eats dead things eats dead things HerbiHerbivorevore: eats plants: eats plants CarniCarnivorevore: eats animals: eats animals OmniOmnivorevore: eats both plants and animals: eats both plants and animals

Hey, you gonna eat that?Hey, you gonna eat that?3. 3. DecomposerDecomposer

Breaks down dead organismsBreaks down dead organisms Examples: bacteria, maggots, fungi, wormsExamples: bacteria, maggots, fungi, worms They complete the circle of life by returning They complete the circle of life by returning

nutrients to the soilnutrients to the soil

4. 4. DetritivoreDetritivore Feeds on dead organic materialFeeds on dead organic material

Food ChainFood Chain

Producer

Primary ConsumerSecondary Consumer

Tertiary Consumer

Herbivore

CarnivoreAutotroph Omnivore

ARROWS represent ENERGY FLOW!

Primary ConsumerPrimary ConsumerSecondary ConsumerSecondary Consumer

Tertiary ConsumerTertiary Consumer

ProducersProducers

Food ChainFood Chain Advantage:Advantage:

Shows the path of energy Shows the path of energy transfer in an ecosystemtransfer in an ecosystem

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Has an endpoint instead of Has an endpoint instead of

showing an endless cycleshowing an endless cycle Does not show diversity among Does not show diversity among

the organisms of a communitythe organisms of a community

Food websFood webs All organisms need FOOD to survive!All organisms need FOOD to survive! Food webs show what eats what.Food webs show what eats what. ARROWS represent ENERGY FLOW!!!ARROWS represent ENERGY FLOW!!!

Food WebFood Web

Advantage:Advantage: Shows how energy flows through Shows how energy flows through

an ecosysteman ecosystem Shows diversity among the Shows diversity among the

organisms of a communityorganisms of a community Disadvantage:Disadvantage:

ComplexComplex

What is this?What is this?

What is this?What is this?

What is this?What is this?

Trophic LevelsTrophic Levels Group of organisms Group of organisms

whose energy source whose energy source is the same number of is the same number of steps away from the steps away from the sun or the position in a sun or the position in a food chain.food chain.

RULE OF 10RULE OF 10

Only 10% of energy is transferred from Only 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.one trophic level to the next.

Example:Example: It takes 100 kgs of plant materials It takes 100 kgs of plant materials

(producers) to support 10 kgs of herbivores(producers) to support 10 kgs of herbivores It takes 10 kgs of herbivores to support 1 kg It takes 10 kgs of herbivores to support 1 kg

of 1of 1stst level predator level predator

HerbivoresHerbivores

CarnivoresCarnivores

CarnivoresCarnivores

100%

10%

1%

0.1%

Producers and DecomposersProducers and Decomposers

Primary ConsumersPrimary Consumers

Secondary ConsumersSecondary Consumers

Tertiary ConsumersTertiary Consumers

BiomassBiomass- Dry weight of tissue and other - Dry weight of tissue and other

organic matter found in a specific organic matter found in a specific ecosystemecosystem

- When trophic levels are shown in an energy - When trophic levels are shown in an energy pyramid, each higher level on the pyramid pyramid, each higher level on the pyramid contains only 10% of the biomass found in contains only 10% of the biomass found in the level below it.the level below it.

18 Energy used by producers in 18 Energy used by producers in a grassland food web is provided a grassland food web is provided by- by-

FF sunlight sunlight

G G photosynthesisphotosynthesis

H H oxygenoxygen

J J carbon dioxidecarbon dioxide

Used by producers

This is a process, not an energy source.

H and J are elements which are types of matter, not energy.

So our answer should be:

F

In this food chain, the In this food chain, the spiders are -- spiders are --

A A producersproducers

B B primary consumersprimary consumers

C C competitorscompetitors

DD secondary consumers secondary consumers   

In this food pyramid, which In this food pyramid, which level contains the greatest level contains the greatest amount of energy? amount of energy?    A A Tertiary consumersTertiary consumers B B Secondary consumersSecondary consumers C C Primary consumersPrimary consumers DD Producers Producers

About 10% of the energy at one About 10% of the energy at one trophic level is passed to the next trophic level is passed to the next level. What usually happens to the level. What usually happens to the energy that is not passed to the energy that is not passed to the next trophic level or used to carry next trophic level or used to carry out life processes?out life processes?

   AA It is given off as heat. It is given off as heat. B B It is stored as vitamins.It is stored as vitamins. C C It is used in reproduction.It is used in reproduction. D D It is used in protein synthesis.It is used in protein synthesis.

Which organisms in this food web Which organisms in this food web can be described as both primary can be described as both primary and secondary consumers?and secondary consumers?

   F F HawksHawks G G WeaselsWeasels HH Raccoons Raccoons J J MiceMice

Now, practice making food webs on Now, practice making food webs on the whiteboard.the whiteboard.

Label the producers, primary Label the producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, tertiary consumers, herbivores, consumers, herbivores, carnivorescarnivores