Species Interaction in Ecosystems

Through the Geog 171 class I have learned a great deal about species interactions. My travels in the Berkeley Hills and Northern California coast ranges demonstrate three species interactions.

The first is an observation of ants decomposing a dead bird carcass nearby my co-op in Berkeley. This is an example of a scavenging from an insect species to a bird species. It is also an example of the lower levels of the food web.

Next is a lichen within the family Lobariaceae growing on the side of an Oak Tree. This is probably a parasitic relationship between the fungus and tree.

Finally we see a wasp gall in the branch of a Coastal Live Oak. This is an example of a parasitic relationship where a wasp injects hormones into a tree branch that makes it swell and produce a "gall" which encases the wasp's larve until they hatch. The tree gains no benefit from the interaction and so it is parasitic.

Posted on February 28, 2013 06:28 AM by elliot_goldstein310 elliot_goldstein310

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Gouty Stem Gall Wasp (Callirhytis quercussuttoni)

Date

February 10, 2013

Description

Gall Wasp bulge in willow tree branch. Galls or cecidia are outgrowths on the surface of lifeforms.

Photos / Sounds

Date

February 17, 2013

Description

Growing on the side of an oaktree this fungus fascinated me. It almost looked like wilted leaves, and was hard to the touch. I looked at neighboring Oak trees and didn't see it growing on them

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Popokoriki (Ants) (Family Formicidae)

Date

February 27, 2013 01:51 PM PST

Description

A swamp of ants begin feeding on a dead bird (species unknown) with yellow belly and brown head.

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