Course: REM 8 Principles of Ecology

Objective: Introduce and improve the knowledge of students in the field of Ecology, help
them understand the relationship and purpose of learning this course in the field of Real
Estate to make them aware on the role of Real Estate Service Practitioner in the community
and the environment.
Module: 1
Week: 3

C. Interaction among Living Things in the Ecosystem

• Ecosystems involve many interactions between organisms.
• Each organism in a community has its own unique role to play. This role, or niche, is more
than just the organisms place in the food web.

>Competition is Interaction
Competition vs Interaction
• Because the resources (food, water, shelter, light etc.) of an ecosystem are limited, it
cannot satisfy the needs of all the organisms living in it.
• Competition is the interaction, or struggle, of organisms against each other to get the
things they need to survive.
Plant Competition
Animal Competition

>Predation is Interaction
• Predators are living things that catch, kill, and eat other living things.
- Examples: cats, hawks, snakes.
• Prey are the organisms that are eaten by predators.
- Examples: mice,
• Predation plays an important role in shaping the structure of a community.

>Symbiosis is Interaction
• Symbiosis is the close relationship between two organisms in which at least one organism
benefits.
• In symbiosis one organism lives near, on, or even inside, another organism.

3 Categories of Symbiotic Relationships

• Symbioses are placed into three categories:
- Commensalism
- Mutualism
- Parasitism

> Commensalism
• In commensalism, one of the organisms’ benefits and the other is not harmed by the
relationship.

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- Example: Sparrows and wrens set up their nests below an osprey nest for protection from
enemies.

> Mutualism
• In mutualism, both organisms benefit from the relationship.
- Example: Ants "herd" aphids. Aphids get fresh leaves for food and the ants get the sugary
secretion from the aphids.
- Example: Shrimp and gobi fish. Blind shrimp gets "eyes", gobi gets a home.
- Example: Microorganisms get a home and help partner in some way (digestion).
• In mutualism, both organisms benefit from the relationship.
- Example: Ants "herd" aphids. Aphids get fresh leaves for food and the ants get the sugary
secretion from the aphids.
- Example: Shrimp and gobi fish. Blind shrimp gets "eyes", gobi gets a home.
- Example: Microorganisms get a home and help partner in some way (digestion).

> Parasitism
• In parasitism, one organism benefits and the other organism is harmed.
-Example: ticks, fleas, mosquitos, leeches all feed on another organism, a host that
experiences some harm. - Example: Disease-causing worms, bacteria and viruses are
internal parasites.

Parasite vs Host
• In parasitism, a parasite usually lives on or in a much larger organism and feeds on it while
it is still alive.
• The parasites unlucky partner is called the host.
• Parasites do not usually kill their host, but many do weaken it greatly.

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References:

Patnugot, Nestor V. (2012). Principles of Ecology. Legal and Environmental Education

Division, Environmental Management Bureau XI. Comprehensive Real Estate Seminar.
PAREB-DBRFI. Davao City, Philippines

Medina, Charito P. et.al (199). Ecosystem Structure and Dynamics. University of the
Philippines Open University, Los Banos, Laguna Philippines

Prepared by:

JADE ANTHONY A. CANDARI,REC,REA,REB