Community InteractionsCommunity Interactions

Unit 6: EcologyUnit 6: Ecology

NicheNiche• Full range of physical and biological

conditions in which an organism lives

• The way in which the organism uses those conditions

• Job or role in the environment

• No two species occupy the SAME niche in the SAME habitat.

Types of Community Types of Community InteractionsInteractions

• Competition

• Predation

• Symbiosis

CompetitionCompetitionOrganisms of the same or different species attempt to use:

• The same ecological resource

• In the same place at the same time.

CompetitionCompetition

PredationPredationPredation—interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism.

PredationPredation1. 3.

2.

SymbiosisSymbiosis• Symbiosis—relationship in which two

species live closely together.

• 3 Types:–Mutualism–Commensalism–Parasitism

MutualismMutualism• Mutualism—symbiotic relationship in

which both species benefit from the relationship.

CommensalismCommensalism• Symbiotic relationship

• One member of the association benefits

• The other is neither helped nor harmed.

CommensalismCommensalism

ParasitismParasitism

• Parasitism—symbiotic relationship in which one organism lives in or on another organism and harms it.