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Ecological Interactions Interactions Between Species Ecological Interaction Ecological (or Biological) Interactions are the effects organisms in a community have on one another. In nature, no organism exists entirely in isolation, and therefore every organism must interact with the environment and other organisms. An organism's interactions with its environment and other species are essential to the survival of the organism and the functioning of the the ecosystem. They can affect distribution and abundance of organism, and can influence evolution. Key Definitions Population: A population is a group of individuals OF THE SAME SPECIES living in the same area, potentially interacting. Community: A community is a group of populations OF DIFFERENT SPECIES living in the same area, potentially interacting. Neutralism Effect of X: 0 Effect on Y: 0 Neutralism describes the relationship between two species that interact but do not affect each other. It describes interactions where the health of one species has absolutely no effect whatsoever on that of the other. There are no examples of this in nature, because the complexity of ecosystems makes it impossible to assert which factors affect which organisms. Amensalism Effect of X: 0 Effect on Y: Amensalism describes the relationship between two species that interact where one species has a negative impact on the other without benefitting itself. A clear case of amensalism is where sheep or cattle trample grass. Whilst the presence of the grass causes negligible detrimental effects to the animals hoof, the grass suffers from being crushed. Commensalism Effect of X: + Effect on Y: 0 Commensalism describes the relationship between two species that interact where one species benefits from the interaction while the other is unaffected. A good example of commensalism is a remora living with a shark. Remoras eat leftover food from the shark, and therefore benefits. The shark is not affected in the process, as the remoras only eat leftover food, and therefore do not deplete the shark’s resources. Competition Effect of X: - Effect on Y: Competition describes the relationship between two species that interact where both species or organisms are negatively impacted by the interaction. This occurs in occasions such as when two species share the same food source, and therefore are competing for the best food supply. Because both must eat from the same source, both species will have less food than if the interaction did not take place. Antagonism Effect of X: + Effect on Y: Antagonism describes the relationship between two species that interact where one species benefits from the interaction while the other is negatively impacted. A basic example is carnivorism, since the predator benefits from the interaction by eating, and the prey dies, which is obviously a detrimental effect on the species. Mutualism Effect of X: + Effect on Y: + Mutualism describes the relationship between two species that interact where both species benefit from the interaction. Within a species this is called co-operation. A well-known example of mutualism is the relationship between ungulates ungulates (such cows) and bacteria within their intestines. The ungulates benefit from the cellulase produced by the bacteria, which aids in digestion. The bacteria benefit from having a stable supple of nutrient in the host environment. Strange Interactions Thanks For Watching! By Jane Harding