Interrelationship

Among
Plants and
Animals
Presenter:
Micaela Monterey
Let’s Define!
Categories of Organisms
Producers

Consumers

Decomposers
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Producers
1 Category
st

Green plants that carry on photosynthesis. Producers are termed auto-

trophs because they are self-nourished – they do not depend on other
species to feed. During photosynthesis, plants capture light energy
with their chlorophyll and use it to convert carbon dioxide and
moisture (absorbed from air) into sugar (chemical energy). Oxygen is
released as a by-product. Every major ecosystem has its particular
green plants that carry on photosynthesis and release chemical energy
(carbohydrates, protein etc.) on which non-producers feed. (algae &
plankton in aquatic systems, plants in terrestrial systems)
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Consumers
2nd Category
Consumers are heterotrophs (other-nourished)
for they rely on chlorophyll-containing plants
or the products of such plants for nourishment.

 Consumers are subdivided into groups

according to their food source.
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Primary Consumers:
Herbivore
 
Species that feed directly on producers (plant-
eating species). They are animals whose primary
food source is plant-based. For examples are, deer,
koalas, and some bird species, as well as
invertebrates such as crickets and caterpillars. 
Secondary Consumers:
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Carnivore
Species that feed on primary consumers.
They are animals that eat other animals.
The word carnivore is derived from
Latin and literally means “meat eater.” 
For example are fox and cats.
Tertiary & Higher Level
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Consumers
Species that obtain their
nourishment by eating other
meat-eating species. E.g. tiger
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Multi-Level Consumers:
Omnivore
Species that obtain their nourishment from
eating both plant- and animal-derived
food. In Latin, omnivore means to eat
everything. For example are humans,
chickens and bears.
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Decomposers
3rd Category
They are the final link in the food chain. Comprise of organisms
that feed on dead matter and break it down to release chemical
energy back into the soil for plants to re-use them. E.g. fungi,
bacteria, insects, worms and others.
 
 
 Detritivores: feed on detritus matter (dead plants and
animals) e.g. crab, vulture, termites, wood beetle and
crayfish. Also called scavengers.
Different Interrelationship
Between Animals / Plants

Feeding Relationship

Non Feeding Relationships

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Feeding Relationships
 The Food Chain
It follows one path of energy and
materials between species. It is a
linear sequence of organisms through
which nutrients and energy pass as
one organism eats another.
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Feeding Relationships
 The Food Web
 a graph that shows all the trophic—
eating-related—interactions between
various species in an ecosystem. It consist
of many interconnected food chains and
are more realistic representation of
consumption relationships
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Non- Feeding
Relationships
  Predation refers to a flow of energy
between two organisms, predator and
prey. In this interaction, the prey loses
energy, and the predator gains energy.

Predator – “the hunter”

Prey – “the hunted”
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Symbiosis
Symbiosis occurs when two organisms
 or species have a long-term
interaction. Sometimes, after a long
time of coevolution, one species might
even rely on another species to survive.
The three types of symbiosis are:
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Non- Feeding
Relationships
  Parasitism is similar to predation in that one
species benefits at the expense of the other.
This is when one species suffers while the
other species benefits. Parasitic species live
on or inside the body of their host. They
usually steal nutrients from the host, but they
don't kill it outright. An example is when
mosquitoes drink human blood. The
mosquitoes get nourishment, but humans just
get unpleasantly itchy.
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Non- Feeding
Relationships
  Commensalism describes a situation in
which one individual benefits and the other
is neither hurt nor helped by the interaction.
This is when one organism might not even
know or care that another organism is
benefiting from them.
Example:
Within the tropical grassland and savanna, Birds will perch on an
carabaos back and feed off of them. They search for and eat the insects
that crawl on the carabaos back. The carabaos is neither harmed nor
helped
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Non- Feeding
Relationships
 Mutualism occurs when organisms of
both species benefit from their
association. This might look like
providing a home, giving food, or
offering protection. In the picture below,
a hummingbird is drinking flower nectar.
In return, the flower gets to have its
pollen spread around by the
hummingbird. These two organisms
benefit from each other.
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Non- Feeding
Relationships
  Competition means plant and animal species
compete over food, water, territorial space and
mating with the opposite sex.

The Principle of Competitive Exclusion: explains that no

two species can occupy the same niche (food or space)
successfully in a stable community.
 Closely related species therefore live far from one
another. This is because plants and animals must
compete for water, nutrients, light and space. The
outcome of this competition determines the character of
an ecosystem.
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