Question

Define the following terms and give one example for each:

(a) Commensalism

(b) Parasitism

(c) Camouflage

(d) Mutualism

(e) Interspecific competition.

Answer 1

(a) Commensalism:

The interaction between two species in which one species is benefited and the other is neither benefited nor harmed is called commensalism e.g. barnacles growing on the back of a whale.

(b) Parasitism:

The interaction between two species in which one species survives at the expense of other the host.

The host is harmed by this association. It is called parasitism e.g. malarial parasite causes harm to the human host.

(c) Camouflage:

The ability of the prey to escape itself from its predator by its cryptically colored pattern to make its predator difficult to prey on it is called camouflage e.g. moths are camouflaged to escape its predator (bird).

(d) Mutualism:

The association of two species in which both are benefited is called mutualism e.g. lichens are the association of fungus and algae where both are benefited.

(e) Interspecific competition:

The competition between different individuals of species/ population for limited sources of food, space, is called interspecific competition e.g. flamingoes and resident fishes of South American lake compete for their common food — zooplankton in the lake.