Ecological Relationships and Symbiosis

Introduction

• Importance of understanding ecological relationships.
• Anecdote about discovering antlions in a sandbox.

Antlions

• Antlions are insects, resemble dragonflies but are distinct.
• Larvae Stage:
  • Create sand pit traps.
  • Use mandibles to capture prey (e.g., ants).
  • Inject enzymes to digest prey.
  • Known as 'doodlebugs'.
• Ecological Role:
  • Predators of ants.
  • Show predator-prey dynamics.

Predator-Prey Dynamics

• Population Cycles:
  • Increase in prey (ants) leads to increase in predators (antlions).
  • Excess predators decrease prey population, then predator population decreases.
  • Graphs of predator and prey populations show cyclical patterns.
• Antlions as Prey:
  • Can be prey to birds.

Competition

• Antlions compete with each other and other species (e.g., jumping spiders) for ants.
• Producers vs. Consumers:
  • Producers (e.g., plants) compete for abiotic factors like light.

Symbiotic Relationships

• Defined as two species living closely together.

• Parasitism:

  • One benefits, the other is harmed.
  • Example: Fleas and hookworms on dogs.

• Mutualism:

  • Both benefit.
  • Example: Acacia ants and acacia trees.
    • Trees provide shelter and food; ants provide protection.

• Commensalism:

  • One benefits, the other is unaffected.
  • Example: Barnacles on whales.

Importance of Ecological Relationships

• Impact population dynamics.
• Human activities can threaten certain species, affecting the entire ecosystem.
• Ongoing discovery and understanding of new relationships.

Conclusion

• Encourages curiosity and continued exploration of ecological interactions.

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