How Do Different Species Interact with Each Other?

An Organism’s Niche• Niche – unique role of a species within an

ecosystem.– Includes the species’ home, environmental

factors necessary for survival, & species interactions with other species.

– Ex: A bison’s niche is being the largest grazing herbivores on American grasslands.

Niche vs. Habitat• The habitat is the location where

the species lives while the niche the species’ interactions in & with

the habitat.

Habitat Niche

Interaction Description Example Species A

Species B

Interactions Between Two Species

Interaction Description Example Species A

Species B

Competition Different organisms

attempt to use the same limited

resource

Fox & coyote both eat rabbits

Interactions Between Two Species

Competition

Interaction Description Example Species A

Species B

Competition Different species attempt to use the same

limited resource

Fox & coyote both eat rabbits

Predation One species feeds on

another species (or organism)

Fox hunts & eats rabbits

Interactions Between Two Species

Predation1)What happens to

the lynx population when the snowshoe hare population increases?

2)What happens to the snowshoe hare population when the lynx population declines?

Interaction Description Example Species A

Species B

Competition Different species attempt to use the

same limited resource

Fox & coyote both eat rabbits

Predation One species feeds on another species (or

organism)

Fox hunts & eats rabbits

Parasitism One species lives in or on

another species & feeds on it

Tick sucks blood of a

deer

Interactions Between Two Species

Parasitism

Interaction Description Example Species A

Species B

Competition Different species attempt to use the same limited resource

Fox & coyote both eat rabbits

Predation One species feeds on another species (or organism)

Fox hunts & eats rabbits

Parasitism One species lives in or on another species & feeds on it

Tick sucks blood of a deer

Mutualism Different species help each other to

survive

Bee drinking nectar from

flowers, pollinating the plant

Interactions Between Two Species

Mutualism

Interaction Description Example Species A

Species B

Competition Different species attempt to use the same limited

resource

Fox & coyote both eat rabbits

Predation One species feeds on another species (or

organism)

Fox hunts & eats rabbits

Parasitism One species lives in or on another species &

feeds on it

Tick sucks blood of a deer

Mutualism Different species help each other to survive

Bee drinking nectar from flowers,

pollinating the plant

Commensalism One species benefits & the other is not harmed

Birds nesting in

trees

Interactions Between Two Species

Commensalism

Symbiosis• Symbiosis is the living together of unlike

organisms where at least one organism benefits.– Ex: Mutualism, Commensalism, & Parasitism