Symbiotic Relationships, Energy
Pyramids and Kingdoms
Simple Review
Symbiotic Relationships
 The word symbiosis means living
together.
 Symbiotic relationships deal with how
different organisms interact in their
natural environment.
 Different types of symbiotic
relationships include: predation,
mutualism, parasitism and
commensalism.
Symbiotic Relationships +, Predation: Predation is the feeding of one
organism on the other. For example, a
hawk (predator) killing and eating a mouse
(prey). The hawk benefits (+), the mouse
dies(-).
 Parasitism: Is the relationship in which
one organism will benefit and the other is
harmed. For example, fleas (parasite) and
a dog (host). The fleas benefit (+) by
feeding on the dogs blood, but the dog is
harmed (-) because he is now lacking
nutrients and is weak.
Symbiotic Relationships +, Commensalism: Relationship in
which one species benefits and the
other is unaffected (is not harmed or
helped). For example, a shrimp and
a sea anemone (plant). The shrimp
benefits (+) from the protection and
shelter that the sea plant provides,
and the sea plant is not harmed or
helped(/) by the shrimp.
Symbiotic Relationships +, Mutualism: This relationship benefits
both organisms involved. For
example, a bee will pollinate/fertilize
a flower and in return the bee
receives nectar from the flower. They
are both helping each other out
(+,+).
Feeding Relationships
 Autotrophs: Organisms that use energy
from the sun to produce their own food.
(Plants using photosynthesis). Autotrophs
are often referred to as producers.
 Heterotrophs: Organisms that depend on
autotrophs for food. Because they
consume food rather than make their own
food, heterotrophs are also called
consumers.
 Herbivore: Organism that only eats
plants.
Feeding Relationships
 Carnivore: organism that only eats
meat.
 Omnivore: Organism that eat both
meat and plants.
 Decomposers: Consumers that
breakdown dead or decaying
organisms. (Bacteria and fungi are
examples of decomposers).
Food Chains
 Food chains show how energy and nutrients
are passed from autotroph to heterotroph,
and eventually to decomposers.
Food Chain/Food Pyramid
 A food chain represents
only one possible path
for the transfer of matter
and energy in an
ecosystem.
 A food chain can also be
shown as a food
pyramid.
 Each level of a food chain
or food pyramid is known
as a trophic level. (Grass
is on the 1st trophic level,
the hawk is in the 4th
trophic level).
Food Webs
Food web portrays
all possible feeding
relationships at each
trophic level in a
community.
 NOTICE THE
DIRECTION OF THE
ARROWS! The plants
and fruit are being
eaten by the insects.
Think about it as if
the fruit/plants are
going inside of the
insect.

Flow of energy
 A pyramid of energy
illustrates how energy
is lost at each trophic
level.
 The total energy
transfer from one level
to the other is about
10%, since organisms
do not eat all food
available at the trophic
level below them. Also,
the energy from this
food is used for body
processes.
 MUCH OF THE ENERGY
IS LOST TO THE
ENVIRONMENT AS
HEAT!
Taxonomy
 Taxonomy: grouping and naming
organisms.
 Groups in the classification system include:
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family,
Genus, Species.
 Remember! “King Phillip Cried Out For
Goodness Sake”!
 A kingdom is the highest, and least
specific, level of classification.
 A species is a group of closely related,
interbreeding organisms within a genus.
(Genus: Dog, Species: Poodle, Chihuahua)
Kingdoms
 All organisms are placed into six kingdoms.
Six Kingdoms
 Kingdom Archaebacteria: bacteria
that live in harsh environments.
 Kingdom Eubacteria: the “true”
bacteria
 Kingdom Protista: protists (includes
amoebas and seaweed)
 Kingdom fungi: includes
mushrooms and yeasts; most are
decomposers.
Six Kingdoms cont’d.
 Kingdom Plantae: includes all
plants
 Kingdom Animalia: all animals
(includes sponges, jellyfish, worms
and insects).
Dichotomous Key
 A Dichotomous key
is a tool for
identifying the
right species of an
organism.
 A series of
questions have to
be answered in
order to find the
correct
classification.
LINKS and ACTIVITIES!!
 Create your own food web! You can
choose from an African or Australian
grassland, or a Antarctic and marine
food web.
http://www.gould.edu.au/foodwebs/kids
_web.htm
 Another great site to use for food
chains/webs
http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.
htm