Question

give an example of an interspecific interaction between actual organisms, provide the scientific names (binomial nomenclature) of the organisms and the nature of ingeraction between them

Answer 1

Solution

Interspecific interaction includes symbiosis, predation, parasitism etc. Many examples of interspecific interactions can be seen in nature.

Example: Mutalistic association between the acacia plant Acacia cornigera and a species of ant Pseudomyrmex ferruginea. This is an example for symbiotic interaction ie both the acacia plant and the ant species are equally benefitted.This interaction is a best example for coevolution.

These Acacia plants have hollow bulbous thorns. Ants will colonize inside these thorns and as the colony grow, ants will colonize more and more thorns. These ants are very aggressive and attack herbivores such as sheep and goats that feed on the leaves of the plant. Thus ants protect the leaves of Acacia plants from excess herbivory. Instead of protecting the plant ants can make their nests inside the hollow thorn of the plant.

Other examples

• Mutualistic association between Azolla filiculoides and blue green algae Anabaena azollae
• Mycorrhizal association between soil fungi and roots of plants
• Mutualistic association between Cycal coralloid root and blue green algae such as Nostoc and Anabaena
• Lichen- Symbiotic association beyween Ascomycetes/Basidiomycetes fungi and Cyanobacteria