Ecological interactions

deo Observe the illustration of some ecological interactions. See 'Jeevibandhangal’

in School Resources in
IT @ school,
Edubuntu.
Flower
and
butterfly
Mango tree
and
vanda
deo Deer
and
tiger

Paddy
and
weeds
Mango tree
video and
loranthus

Illustration 13.4
Complete the illustration given below with suitable examples for
ecological interactions.
Ecological interactions

Click click click click click

Predation Parasitism Competition Mutualism Commensalism
Beneficial to one Beneficial to one and Harmful to both Beneficial to both Beneficial to one
but harmful to harmful to the other. in the beginning. the organisms. and is neither
the other. Prey The parasite depends Then beneficial to beneficial nor
becomes the food on the host for the one who harmful to the
of the predator. nutrition. wins. other.
eg: eg: eg: eg: eg:
..............................
Mango tree and loranthus ..............................
.............................
Mango tree and vanda

Illustration 13.5
There are many interactions in nature that we do not see or realise.
These interactions maintain the balance and stability of the ecosystems.
Food relations are visible instances of interaction among organisms.

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 The ecosystem becomes more stable as the diversity of ecological
interactions and abiotic factors increases.
Diverse ecosystems
Observe the pictures given below.

Click click click

Forest Ocean Grassland

Click click click

Tundra Wetland Desert

Fig. 13.1 Different types of ecosystems

Collect information on the peculiarities of these ecosystems and

the organisms found there.With the help of the indicators, discuss
and write them down in the science diary.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity includes all the diverse organisms that inhabit the
earth along with their ecosystems. Biodiversity includes variou
levels like ecosystem diversity, species diversity and genet
diversity. This term which denotes the richness of the biospher
was first used by a British environmentalist, Walter. G. R
in 1985. click
Indicators
 Are all ecosystems alike in biodiversity?

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 Are all organisms seen in an ecosystem also seen in another
ecosystem?
 What is the need for protecting natural ecosystems?

Importance of biodiversity
What are the benefits of conserving biodiversity? In order to
understand it, we must identify the services provided by biodiversity.
Observe the illustration given below. On the basis of the illustration,
prepare a note on the need for conserving biodiversity.

See Jaivavaividhyam
Availability of essential innale, innu, nale in
materials School Resources in
 Food IT @ School, Edubuntu.
 Medicine
 Fuels
 Construction materials

Cultural
Ecological Services
Services
 Aesthetics $ Soil formation
 Recreation $ Prevention of soil erosion
 Study Biodiversity – $ O2 - CO 2 balance
 Rituals and their practice Services $ Availability of fresh water
$ Control of flood
$ Climate control
$

Auxiliary Services
$ Nutrient cycling
$ Pollination
$ Biological control
$ Seed dispersal
$
Illustration 13.6

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