1. Types of Interactions Among Living Things

2. Ecological Organization

3. Understanding Ecological Organization
Individual
A single living thing
Population
A group of individuals of the same species that live together
Community
All the different populations of species that live together in an area
Ecosystem
Made up of all the biotic and abiotic factors that interact in a particular area
Biome
A large region with a similar climate
Biosphere
The part of earth where life exists

4. Interactions with the Environment
Most living things produce more offspring than will survive. This is known as overproduction.
So why are we not overrun with frogs or fish?

5. Limiting Factors
Organisms interact with the biotic & abiotic factors in their environment.
Populations cannot grow without stopping.
Limiting factor – a resource that is so scarce that it limits the size of a population.
Limits on the amount of: (examples)
Food
Water
Living space
Other resources

6. Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity – the largest population that an environment can support.
When a population grows larger than its carrying capacity, limiting factors in the environment cause individuals to die off or leave, returning the population to a size that the environment can support.

7. Habitats and Niches In an ecosystem, organisms live in a habitat.
Habitat provides food, water & shelter
A single ecosystem may contain many habitats.
Within an ecosystem, organisms fit into a niche.
Role or job within the ecosystem

8. Interactions Among Organisms
Competition
Predation
Symbiosis

9. 1. Competition
Competition – when two or more individuals or populations try to use the same resources.
Compete for:
Food, water, shelter, space, sunlight
Adaptations enable organisms to reduce competition.

10. Competition in a Population
Example:
The elks in Yellowstone National Park are herbivores that compete with each other for food plants in the park.

11. Competition in a Community
Example:
Competition also happens between different populations (within a community).
Different species of plants compete with each other for sunlight and space.

12. Adaptations
Every organism has a variety of adaptations (characteristics) that are suited to its specific conditions which help the organism to survive.
The adaptations can also assist them in their interactions with other organisms.

13. 2. Predation
An interaction in which one organism hunts and kills another organism for food is called predation.
Predator
the hunter
Prey
the hunted
Video clip: The Battle at Kruger

14. Predator Adaptations Helps them catch & kill their prey Speed
Stingers, toxins, sharp teeth
Camouflage
Night vision

15. Prey Adaptations
Also known as “defense strategies” to avoid predation:
Camouflage
Protective coverings
Warning coloring
Defensive chemicals
Mimicry
False coloring

16. Prey blend in to their environment to avoid being eaten by predators.
Camouflage

17. Protective Coverings
Hedgehog

18. Warning Coloring
Bright colors warn predators that the prey may be poisonous and to stay away!

19. Some animals defend themselves with chemicals.
Defensive Chemicals

20. The ability some animals have to resemble another animal so closely that they can fool either their prey or their predators.
Mimicry
Monarch
Coral Snake
Viceroy
King Snake

21. False Coloring
Used to trick predators

22. 3. Symbiosis
Symbiosis is a close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of the species.
3 types:
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism

23. How Wolves change Rivers…….
Video clip