In this next series of lessons we will be exploring
interactions between organisms such as predator/prey,
parasites, competitors, pollinators and disease.
A predator is an animal that catches live prey for food.
The prey is an animal that is captured, killed and consumed
by another animal
e.g. lion (predator) & zebra (prey), bear & fish, fox & rabbit.
Let’s watch Hunter & Hunted! (on clickview)
What are predators? Worksheet (p41-42 Achieve)
Competition is when organisms compete for resources that they
need to survive.
Giant Amazon Lily Video
Tree & plant life in the jungle video
For plants (producers, autotrophs) competition typically means
competing for sunlight, water, and nutrients from the soil, which
are all necessary for photosynthesis.
These forest trees are growing
taller and taller in order to
compete with each other for
sunlight
How do plants compete for food worksheet
(p35-36 Achieve)
These forest trees are spreading
their roots in order to maximise
their ability to take in water and
nutrients from the soil, as well as
keep other trees out of their
territory.
Animal Territory Battles for Survival Video
For animals (consumers, heterotrophs) competition usually
occurs over territory, food, and mates.
These male deer are competing to
see who will be the alpha male
and mate with the female deer
These hyenas are competing
with this lion over an animal
carcass
How do animals in ecosystems compete for food worksheet (p40 Achieve)
Competition in ecosystems worksheet (p15-16 Achieve).
Organisms in a close RELATIONSHIP where at least
one organism benefits.
Without one another bees and many types of
flowers would not be able to exist
Symbiosis general overview vid
COMMENSALISM (+ 0)
One partner benefits whilst the other remains unharmed
Remoras hitch a ride on sharks
and feed on scraps from the
sharks meal. This helps the
remora but has no effect on
the shark
Epiphytes e.g. ferns, orchids, and
mosses grow on larger trees
allowing them to access more
sunlight and rainwater
One partner (the parasite) benefits, and the other (the host)
is harmed.
Parasites live on or in their host
Some examples are heart worm in dogs, hookworms in
people, and mould (white fuzzy stuff) on aquarium fishes.
Parasitism (Monsters Inside Me) vids
Parasitoid wasp
Create a parasite task
Mutualism (++)
A partnership between 2 different kinds of organisms where
both of them benefit
Mutualism song
Clownfish & Anemone video
Plover & croc video
Mutualism wanted ad task
Interactions summary
Construct a table to summarise the similarities and differences
between parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism.
+
−
Quizlet: ecological interactions (key terms)
Quizlet: examples of ecological interactions
Relationships worksheet p13-14 Acheive
Relationships worksheet p43-44 Achieve