Here Are The Types Of Ecological Relationships
FIVE TYPES – Different organisms have to interact with each other in order to survive in the physical environment where they co-exist.
Difeerent organisms occupy different ‘niches’. A niche is a physical space where an organism is capable of surviving. It must be comfortable or suitable for the organism and must have the resources to cater the organisms needs.
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The organisms interaction with each other can be categorized under five categories: competition, predation, commensalism, mutualism and parasitism.
The relationships could also be symbiotic or non-symbiotic. Symbiotic relationships are relationships where both organisms benefit from each other.
Here are the five types of ecological relationships:
PREDATION
Predator & Prey relationship means one organism feeds off another another organism by eating it to obtain the needed nutrients. For instance, birds eating worms or snakes eating rats to survive in a habitat.
COMPETITION
Competition, on the other hand is when organisms in groups or individually, compete for food. This can occur between different species of organisms. Competition can also happen when organisms compete for other resources than food.
COMMENSALISM
Commensalism is when one organism benefits from another organism while the latter is neither obtaining benefit from the relationship nor harmed by it. Chemical commensalism, Inquilinism, Metabiosis and Phoresy are the different types of Commensalism relationships.
PARASITISM
Parasitism is a type of relationship where one organism is obtaining benefits from another organism and the latter is harmed (but not necessarily killed). This relationship is between a parasite – the organism that benefits in the relationship. And the host – the other organism which the parasite is obtaining from.
MUTUALISM
Mutualism is where both organisms benefit from the relationship and neither of them is harmed. Mutualism has three forms Obligate mutualism, Diffusive mutualism and Facultative mutualism.
These are based on an article from SeattlePi.
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