Question

Indicate how each of the 8 forms of species interaction exists in an ecosystem. Give examples of each type of interaction, and whom benefits or sacrifices. Include why this type of interaction stays prevalent in the population (ie: what is the payoff?).

Answer 1

Solution:

The area of evolutionary ecology under population ecology deals with different interactions of organisms, how organisms evolved to adapt new environment through interactions with individuals, populations and also other species. The important species interactions include, competition, predation, mutualism, commensalism, herbivory, and parasitism.

Among these competition is an interaction that affects both interacting populations negatively. Several different types of competition is prevalent in nature. It may be intraspecific of interspecific (Within the same species and between individuals of different species respectively). Two other variants of competition includes exploitation competition and interference competetion. In exploitatiuon competition there is indirect competition between individuals through consumption of resources. In interference comptition the organisms physicaly induce direct interation. In all cases it results in causing detrimental effects to both individuals.

The amensalism results in the negative effects on one species where as other remain unaffected. In the case of predation, herbivory and parasitism, these always cause detrimental effects to host. Here there is positive effect on the predator/herbivore/parasite but negative effects on the host. Mutualism results in the positive effect to both interacting individuals. Humans often enter mutaulistic relationship with plants called as agriculture. Individuals exhibiting commensalism show null effects to the host and positive effects on the commensal. Th beautiful relationship between Cattle Egret and Cow is an example. Neutralistic interactions causes null effects on both individuals.