A Few Definitions
In this biome (and all biomes), many relationships exist between the organisms inhabiting the ecosystems. Here is a little information on four of the relationships between organisms what the effects are:
Mutualism - this is having a relationship between organisms that benefits both partakers.
Parasitism - this relationship occurs when one organism lives inside or on another organism and benefits from this, while hurting the other organism.
Commensalism - this relationship occurs when one organism is benefited but the other is neither harmed nor helped.
Predation - also known as the predator-prey relationship, predation is when one organism hunts, captures and eats another organism. The hunter is the predator and the victim is the prey.
Mutualism - this is having a relationship between organisms that benefits both partakers.
Parasitism - this relationship occurs when one organism lives inside or on another organism and benefits from this, while hurting the other organism.
Commensalism - this relationship occurs when one organism is benefited but the other is neither harmed nor helped.
Predation - also known as the predator-prey relationship, predation is when one organism hunts, captures and eats another organism. The hunter is the predator and the victim is the prey.
A Few Examples
Now, here are some demonstrations of these relationships within the desert biome:
Mutualism
- Bees pollinating the flowers on brittlebush plants.
- A type of bird called the phainopepla eats mistletoe berries. Since the bird can't digest the berries' seeds, it lets them out as droppings and effectively help with the continuation of the mistletoe berry plant species.
Parasitism
- An example of this is fleas living on coyotes, and benefiting from the coyote's blood. The coyote, on the other hand, is losing blood and is increasing its risk in catching diseases.
- Mistletoe plants grow on desert willow trees and benefit from the trees' nutrients. Because of the loss of nutrients, the trees slowly die.
Commensalism
- A type of plant called the desert holly shrub provides shade for younger creosote bushes.
- As indicated by the names, cactus wrens build nests for their young inside cacti to keep them safe from predators.
Predation
- Various birds of the desert region prey on small animals, such as smaller birds, rodents, mice and sometimes reptiles.
- Most reptiles such as snakes and lizard prey on insects and arachnid. The larger reptiles, though, eat mice and smaller reptiles.
- Badges, coyotes and kit foxes prey on some insects, rodents, mice and some reptiles. Kit foxes, especially, prey on desert rabbits.
Mutualism
- Bees pollinating the flowers on brittlebush plants.
- A type of bird called the phainopepla eats mistletoe berries. Since the bird can't digest the berries' seeds, it lets them out as droppings and effectively help with the continuation of the mistletoe berry plant species.
Parasitism
- An example of this is fleas living on coyotes, and benefiting from the coyote's blood. The coyote, on the other hand, is losing blood and is increasing its risk in catching diseases.
- Mistletoe plants grow on desert willow trees and benefit from the trees' nutrients. Because of the loss of nutrients, the trees slowly die.
Commensalism
- A type of plant called the desert holly shrub provides shade for younger creosote bushes.
- As indicated by the names, cactus wrens build nests for their young inside cacti to keep them safe from predators.
Predation
- Various birds of the desert region prey on small animals, such as smaller birds, rodents, mice and sometimes reptiles.
- Most reptiles such as snakes and lizard prey on insects and arachnid. The larger reptiles, though, eat mice and smaller reptiles.
- Badges, coyotes and kit foxes prey on some insects, rodents, mice and some reptiles. Kit foxes, especially, prey on desert rabbits.