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1.6: Interdependence of Living Things

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    6257
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    What other species do you need to survive?

    Species cannot live alone. All life needs other life to survive. Here surgeon fish are feeding on the algae growth on this turtle shell, a classic example of two species needing each other. This is an example of a symbiotic relationship.

    Interdependence of Living Things

    All living things depend on their environment to supply them with what they need, including food, water, and shelter. Their environment consists of physical factors—such as soil, air, and temperature—and also of other organisms. An organism is an individual living thing. Many living things interact with other organisms in their environment. In fact, they may need other organisms in order to survive. This is known as interdependence. For example, living things that cannot make their own food must eat other organisms for food. Other interactions between living things include symbiosis and competition.

    Symbiosis

    Symbiosis is a close relationship between organisms of different species in which at least one of the organisms benefits. The other organism may also benefit, it may be unaffected by the relationship, or it may be harmed by the relationship. Figure below shows an example of symbiosis. The birds in the picture are able to pick out food from the fur of the deer. The deer won't eat the birds. In fact, the deer knowingly lets the birds rest on it. What, if anything, do you think the deer gets out of the relationship?

    Starlings and a stag in symbiosis

    A flock of starlings looks out, before searching for parasites on a red deer stag.

    Competition

    Competition is a relationship between living things that depend on the same resources. The resources may be food, water, or anything else they both need. Competition occurs whenever they both try to get the same resources in the same place and at the same time. The two organisms are likely to come into conflict, and the organism with better adaptations may win out over the other organism.

    Summary

    • All living things depend on their environment to supply them with what they need, including food, water, and shelter.
    • Symbiosis is a close relationship between organisms of different species in which at least one of the organisms benefits.
    • Competition is a relationship between living things that depend on the same resources.

    Making Connections

    Explore More

    Use this resource to answer the questions that follow.

    1. How do organisms within a community interact with each other?
    2. Describe and give examples of the two types of competition.
    3. How may predation benefit the prey population?
    4. Describe the various types of symbiotic relationships.
    5. Describe a type of mutualistic relationship involving humans.

    Review

    1. What is meant by interdependence?
    2. Describe an example of a way that you depend on other living things.
    3. Compare and contrast symbiosis and competition.
    4. Give three examples of resources organisms may compete for.

    This page titled 1.6: Interdependence of Living Things is shared under a CK-12 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by CK-12 Foundation via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

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