Final answer:
Organisms have different niches that enable them to survive. These niches include competition, predator/prey relationships, symbiotic interactions, and mimicry. Examples of each are discussed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Organism Niches:
Organisms have different niches that enable them to survive in their community. A niche refers to the role or function of an organism in its ecosystem. Different niches include:
- Competition: Organisms compete with each other for resources such as food, water, and territory. For example, lions and hyenas compete for prey in the same habitat.
- Predator/Prey Relationships: Predators hunt and feed on other organisms. Prey organisms have adaptations to protect themselves from predators. For instance, the cheetah is a predator that hunts and feeds on impalas.
- Symbiosis: Symbiotic relationships involve two different species living in close association with each other. Examples of symbiosis include:
- Commensalism: One species benefits while the other is neither harmed nor benefitted. An example is the relationship between barnacles and whales, where barnacles attach themselves to whale bodies and get transportation and food.
- Parasitism: One species benefits at the expense of the other, which is harmed. A common example is the relationship between ticks and dogs, where ticks feed on dog blood and cause harm to the dog.
- Mutualism: Both species benefit from the relationship. An example is the relationship between bees and flowers, where bees obtain nectar while pollinating flowers.
Mimicry: Some organisms mimic the appearance or behavior of other species to gain an advantage. For example, the viceroy butterfly mimics the poisonous monarch butterfly to avoid predation.