Ecological Relationships

There are 3 major relationship types:

• Predation

• Competition

• Symbiosis

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3 Major Relationship Types

The predator-pray relationship

​involves one organism surviving by consuming another. Think:

Happy face - Dead face.

Predation

The competitive relationship

​involves 2 organisms competing for resources. "Resources" includes:

• Shelter/space (Inter- or intra-species)

• Food (Also inter- or intra-species)

• Mates (Only intra-species)

Think:

Both - Game on faces.

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​Competition

2 organisms living in (usually) long-term close physical association. ONE ALWAYS BENEFITS!

3 types:

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

Symbiosis

Both organisms benefit!

Examples:

• Bacteria in our gut

• Clownfish and sea anemones

• Lichen (algae and bacteria)

​Happy face - Happy face.

​Mutualism

One organism benefits, the other is unaffected.

Examples:

• Cattle egret and cows

• Shark and rhemora

​Happy face - I don't careface.

​Commensalism

One organism benefits, the other is harmed.

Examples:

• Flea on dog

• Tapeworm in gut

​Happy face - Sad face.

​Parasitism