Year 11 Pre-Diploma Biology

INTER-SPECIFIC RELATIONSHIPS
A review of inter-specific relationships amongst organisms. These are relationships between different species. Included here is a work sheet which can be used to base your own observations. You should give named examples of inter-specific relationships under the following definitions: a. b. c. d. e. f. Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism Competition Neutralism Predation Each example should be shown as a + or or 0 relationship, as described in the table at the end of the attached sheets. From the syllabus guide
6.4.6 Biotic factors What are the more important biological relationships in ecosystems? List the more important biotic factors of ecosystems, incl. inter- and intra- specific competition, grazing, predation and parasitism and mutualism and understand how they may impact on an ecosystem. Describe specific examples.

Interspecific interactions are interactions among organisms of different species. Typically, these interactions are classified based on whether they are beneficial to one or both of the species involved or whether they are detrimental to one of the species involved. An organisms niche is its functional role within the community, including its activities and relationships, its address, its job or function within the community, and how it relates to other organisms. The niche of each species is a little different to avoid competition. Different species, even closely-related ones, will have different food preferences, seasonality, daily feeding rhythms, and location within the habitat. For some species of katydids within the same genus, the difference may be as subtle as a preference for perching on the top vs the middle of a stem on a grass plant.

Types of Relationships Symbiosis Any relationship that involves two (or more) species living together and interacting. This is a general term which includes predation, parasitism, commensalism, mutualism, etc., but often is used to mean mutualism. Predation When a larger animal eats other, smaller animals. Lions may eat antelope, and wolves may eat deer. Spiders, like this orbweaver, capture and eat insects such as the cricket shes eating.

Symbiotic relationships
Commensalism A relationship between two species that is beneficial to one but of neutral benefit to the other. Cattle egrets follow cattle to feed on the insects stirred up by the grazing cattle. (Might there be a benefit for the cattle?)

Mutualism A relationship between two species where both benefit. The yucca moth both pollinates and feeds on the yucca plant; acacia ants live in the thorns of, defend, and are fed by the acacia tree in which they live; and trees cant get along without mycorrhizae living in/on their roots and absorbing food for them. Many plants and their pollinators have evolved mutualistic relationships. Butterflyweed provides food for and is pollinated by butterflies like pipevine swallowtails.

Parasitic relationships
Parasitism When a smaller organism feeds on a larger, weakening or killing it. This is a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed. Often the host is not killed outright. Because a parasite lives in/on the body of its host and needs the host to remain alive, it is usually advantageous for the parasite to not kill its host. Humans and domestic animals are occasionally infected with or bothered by tapeworms and roundworms (endoparasites) and mosquitoes and leeches (ectoparasites). Parasitoid A parasite that eventually causes the death of its host. By the time the parasitoid undergoes metamorphosis, all of the hosts innards have been eaten. Often, insect larvae that are parasitoids of other insects eat the hosts tissues, timing things such that just as theyre ready to pupate, they have eaten up the whole insides of their host, and it dies. Braconid wasps do this to tomato hornworms, and this hornworm, covered with cocoons of pupating braconids, probably has almost no body parts left inside. If you see a caterpillar like this on your tomato plants, leave it alone. The wasps will eventually hatch, mate, and lay eggs in any other tomato hornworms they can find a good means of biological control.

Definition:
Symbiosis is a close ecological relationship between the individuals of two (or more) different species. Sometimes a symbiotic relationship benefits both species, sometimes one species benefits at the other's expense, and in other cases neither species benefits. Ecologists use a different term for each type of symbiotic relationship: Mutualism Parasitism Competition Neutralism -- both species benefit -- one species benefits, the other is harmed -- neither species benefits -- both species are unaffected Commensalism -- one species benefits, the other is unaffected

The following table illustrates the correct use of these terms in interactions between Species "A" and Species "B". "+" denotes benefit to the species "0" denotes no positive or negative effect "-" denotes an undesirable effect of the interaction.

+ Species "A" 0

Parasitism

Commensalism Neutralism

Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism

Competition

0 Species "B"