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
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
Predation
1)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
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