E5 - Biotic Interactions Flashcards
Biotic Interactions?
Interactions between organisms in a community
Three main ways of biotic interactions are:
Competition
Predation
Symbiosis
Competition?
Interaction between 2 or more organisms competing for the same resource in a given habitat
Competition Between different species =
interspecific competition
Competition between 2 members of the same species =
intraspecific competition
Different niches allow…
Different niches allow for similar species to exist in the same community without competition.
Predation?
Prey and predators usually adapt
One organism eats another to obtain food
Prey are usually adapted to avoid being eaten (camouflage, speed)
Predators are usually adapted to catch prey (eyesight, speed)
Mimicry
Some prey animals defend themselves by mimicking (looking like) other animals that are not hunted.
The monarch butterfly tastes terrible to birds and is usually avoided.
The viceroy butterfly looks similar to the monarch, so birds avoid eating it (even though it is “tastier”)
Symbiosis
One species..
An interaction between two species
One species lives in, on or near members of the other species
Three main types of symbiosis
Three main types:
Mutualism – both species benefit
Commensalism – one species benefits, other is unaffected
Parasitism – one species benefits, other is harmed
Characteristics of Populations- Populations are dependent on
as populations grow
both their biotic and abiotic interactions with the environment in order to be sustainable.
As populations grow, each individual gets a smaller share of resources.
When this happens, the affected organisms become stressed. Some may die, others may not be able to reproduce.
the population is in equilibrium when
When # births = # deaths,
Carrying Capacity?
is the maximum number of individuals that can ecosystem can support without reducing its ability to support future generations of the same species.
Exceeding carrying capacity for a long time results in environmental harm.
