Organisms' Relationships in the Temperate Grasslands

A bee pollinating a flower in the grasslands

Mutualism is an interaction in which two animals both benefit by working or being together. In the stomachs of some large herbivores in the temperate grasslands lives a certain type of bacteria. This bacteria helps to break down the cellulose from the plants that the herbivores eat, and this is an example of mutualism. Another even simpler example of mutualism is that of the flowers in the grasslands and the bees. The flowers get their pollen distributed by the bees so they can grow more plants and the bees get the nectar from the plants for food. So both organism benefit positively from the relationship.

Commensalism is a symbiosis relationship where only one of the organism benefits, however, the other organisms is not harmed. Cattle and cattle egrets have a commensalism relationship. When the cattle graze in the grasses, they disturb insects that live in the grasses or are nearby. Then the cattle egret has adapted to be near the cattle when they are eating because the egret can easily find some insects to eat.

Brown-headed cowbird's egg in another bird's nest

Parasitism is similar to commensalism but in parasitism one species benefits and the other species is harmed in the process. The brown-headed cowbird is a parasitic animal. This bird lays it's eggs in the nests of other birds allowing it to not have to waste energy raising its young but still having offspring. When the cowgirls leave their eggs in other's nests, they make the birds that have to take care of the young to have another mouth to feed and shelter, putting more strain on the animal. Thus making it a parasitic on the bird who's nest the cowbird's eggs are in. Another example of a parasitic relationship is the herb called a yellow rattle. It lives on the roots of the grains and grasses in the fields and takes the nutrients and water from the host plants. So then the host plants are effected negativity because the yellow rattle is taking their needed nutrients and the yellow rattle is positively affected.

Interspecific competition is when two or more animals of different species have to compete for the same role in the ecosystem. They could be competing for food, water, sunlight, soil resources, or space. An example of this interaction is with wolves and coyotes in the Temperate Grasslands. Even though wolves and coyotes are not always active at the same time all the time, they do eat the same types of food and live in the same areas. This can be a problem for coyotes, because if there was a fight, wolves would usually win. This makes the coyotes to have to be careful where they live and make sure its not in wolves' territory.

The Temperate Grasslands need to be protected in order for all these animals to be protected. These relationships go to show that if something happens to one animal species many other ones will be affected, too.

Additional information Gathered from:

"Mutualism, Commensalism, & Parasitism." Temperate Grassland/Prairie. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014.
"Symbiosis." Temperate Grasslands. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2014.