Relationships in Ecosystems
Jan 01, 2016
Relationships in Ecosystems
Populations
• All of the same species in an ecosystem
www.nkf-mt.org.uk
www.intrasystems.gr
Competition
• All living things compete for– Food– Space
• Competition limits population growth
www.opim.wharton.upenn.edu
Limiting Factors
• Anything that restricts or controls the number of individuals in a population
www.bahamascommerce.com
Carrying Capacity
• The largest number of individuals of one species an ecosystem can support
www.wwt.org.uk
Symbiosis
• Any close relationship between species
en.wikipedia.org
Mutualism
• A relationship in which both species benefit
Cleaner fish
Pollination
Lichens: Algae + Fungus
www.biology.clc.uc.edu
www.orn.mpg.de www4.tpgi.com.au
Commensalism
• A relationship in which one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed
Barnacles on whaleShark & remora
www.community.webshots.com www.cbu.edu
Parasitism
• A relationship in which one organisms benefits and the other is harmed
TickMistletoe
www.oznet.ksu.edu www.wcosf.org
Predator - Prey
• Predators are consumers that capture and eat other consumers, called prey
http://www.uga.edu
Cooperation
• Organisms working together toward a common end or purpose
http://forger.ca/ http://special.newsroom.msu.edu
BIODIVERSITY(Biological Diversity)
• Biodiversity is the level of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet.
• Biodiversity is a measure (sign) of the health of ecosystems. Greater biodiversity implies greater health.
• Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. Tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions support fewer species.