Bio.2.1.3
Explain various ways organisms interact with each other
(including predation, competition, parasitism, mutualism)
and with their environments resulting in stability within
ecosystems.
(including predation, competition, parasitism, mutualism)
and with their environments resulting in stability within
ecosystems.
Predation
Predation is essential in a stable ecosystem. Without it, populations would be out of control, and predatory animals couldn't survive.
PredatorWithout predators, there would be a huge over population of animals who were lower on the food chain. Predators keep the populations of smaller animals in balance and are essential in a stable environment.
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PreyWithout prey, there would be no food for the larger game. The prey is a very essential part of the food chain because without them, not only would the predators have no food, they would have no energy.
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This video ties into both Predation and Parasitism!
Parasitism
Parasitism is where an organism gets its energy from a host and usually harms it and sometimes kills it.
A tick is an example of an external parasite. Ticks get their nutrition from the blood of their host. The tick can harm and sometimes kill their host by transmitting diseases. Parasitism is important because it not only helps to maintain population control, but some of them are also a food source to other organisms.
Competition
Competition is very healthy in an environment and without it an ecosystem wouldn't be stable.
This food chain has already been used once in this website, but it will work well to explain competition too. In ecosystems, there is competition for food, shelter, mating and many other things. In a food chain, organisms that are in the same category such as herbivore or top-level carnivore are in competition with each other for food. Competition also ties in with natural selection because the strongest and smartest organism is most likely to win when competing. That means that the genes and traits from the smarter organism will be passed down through generations. Competition is a necessity in ecosystems because natural selection helps to make better organisms, and it also helps to maintain population control.
This video ties into both Competition and Mutualism and the bird beak changes from 2.1.2!
Mutualism
Mutualism is a type on interaction where one, if not both, of the organisms involved get benefited. In mutalism, organisms work together in the fight for survival and can be seen all over many ecosystems.
One example of mutualism is a flower that produces nectars to attract an organism to pollinate it or fruit to attract animals that will help spread seeds inside. This is essential for a stable ecosystem because without these organisms working together, the flowers couldn't reproduce and the pollinators would lose that source of food. Mutualism helps to supple more than one organism with a need without competition.