Community Interactions

Competition• Competition is when two organisms

use the same space and resources at the same time.

• Both are harmed in the relationship

#1: Kudzu and Native Plants

• Kudzu was introduced to the

• United States in 1876 at the• Centennial Exposition in • Philadelphia, PA.

It “out competes” other

native plants so they don’t

have a place to grow.

Mutualism

• Mutualism is a relationship between two organisms where both of them benefit from the relationship.

#2: Cleaner Shrimp

These shrimp set uplarge cleaning stationson the reef where fishwill come to haveparasites picked fromtheir skin. The shrimpgets a constant foodsource and the fish

(eel in this case)gets rid of potentiallydangerous parasites.

Cleaner Shrimp and Grouper

Commensalism

• Commensalism is a relationship where one organism benefits and other is neither harmed nor benefited.

#3: Shark and Remora

• The remora benefits by getting food from the shark’s meal.

• There is no apparent benefit to the shark.

Remora without its shark

• Note the sucker on the head of the remora (or suckerfish)

ParasitismParasitism is a relationship where one

individual benefits and the other is harmed. Parasites rarely kill their hosts because to do so would ultimately harm the parasite!

#4: Tick and Host

http://pelotes.jea.com/AnimalFact/Arthropod/ticks.htm

Predator-Prey• In a predator-prey relationship one organism benefits and the other is killed.• It occurs rapidly.

#5: Snake and Frog

Camouflage

Warning Coloration

Mimicry

Aggressive mimicry

http://www.imagequest3d.com/cgi-bin/ImageFolio4/imageFolio.cgi?direct=aquatic/chordata/osteichthyes&img=

How well do you understand community

interactions?

#6: Clownfish and AnemoneThe clownfish gets protection from the anemone and in

return protects the anemone from fish that would eat it

(angelfish); the clownfish also keeps the anemone free of

dirt and debris.

Mutualism

#7: Cheetah and Antelope

Predator-Prey

#8: Aphid and Ant• Aphids feed on the sap of the plant they are on.

(YUCKY Xmas Tree!) • 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.

• Ants, in return for the honeydew, protect the aphids from predators such as flies, wasps, and beetles.

Mutualism

#9: Pollination• Plants provide

nectar to attract pollinators. Nectar is food.

• The plant gets

reproduced because the pollinator picks up its pollen.

Mutualism

#10: Egret and Cattle• The cattle stir

up grasshoppers and other insects that the egret likes to eat.

• There is no apparent benefit to the cow.

Commensalism

#11: Wasp and Hornworm Larva Adult wasps

insert their eggs beneath the skin of the hornworm larva. (Surrogant)

• The eggs hatch and the young feed on the hornworm until they form a pupa.

• The worm is killed.

Parasitism

Rare that parasite kills host.

#12: Spider and Insect

• The spider is eating an insect that it has trapped.

Predator-Prey

Webbing is a feeding strategy mechanism.

#13: Eagle and Fish

Predator-Prey

#14: Whale and Barnacle

•

The barnacle larvae swim around, attach to the whale. This habitat is a good one for providing food.

The whale does not “appear” to be harmed.

Commensalism

#15: Ants and Acacia Trees

• Ants hollow out the large thorns of the plant for nests and feed on sweet secretions from the base of each leaf.

• The ants in

return protect the trees from herbivores that would eat the leaves.

Mutualism

#16: Mistletoe and Plants•Mistletoe lives off the branches and stems of other trees.

•It can photo- synthesize a little but not enough to meet its needs. The tree can be very harmed.

Parasitism

YES! Plants relationships can be considered as parasitic.

#17: OxPecker Bird and Hoofed Mammal The

oxpecker

eats

parasites

on the

mammal –

food for

the bird

and

removal of

danger

for the

mammal

More Ox (?) peckers

Another ox(?)pecker

Mutualism

#18: Wolf and Deer

Predator-Prey

#19: Rams

Competition