Interspecific relationships: types and examples

There are different Types of interspecific relationships that can be given between the organisms of a community and are defined in relation to the beneficial effect (+), harmful (-) or neutral (0) for each of the individuals involved.

• Relationships (0) (+)
• Ratio (+) (0)
• Relationships (+) (-)
• Ratio (+) (+)
• Relationship (-)/(-) or (+)

Here are each of these Types of interspecific relationships with examples.

Within the Types of relationships between species called (0)/(+) We find these types:

• Amensalism: relationship in which an individual produces a toxic substance for another, such as eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) Segregate substances that damage and make the growth of plant species around it impossible.
• Antibiosis: It occurs when a species segregates harmful substances for another species that competes with it. A classic example of antibiosis is the fungus Penicilliumwhich produces substances that inhibit the growth of the microorganisms around it. Learn more about this type of interspecific relationship with this other ecology article about antibiosis: definition and examples.

The interspecific relationships known as the type (+)/(0) are the following:

• Epibiosis: It is established when a sessile and harmless organism (epibionte), Live on another living being (Basibionte). An example of this type of relationship is given between epibiontings such as balaists, rams or algae and basibionts such as whales, sharks or sea turtles.
• Tanatocreis: Relationship that occurs when an individual uses the remains of other dead organisms for their own benefit such as excrement or their secretions. An example is the hermit crab (Eupagurus Bernhardus), which takes refuge and protects using the empty shell of a snail.
• FORESIA: relationship that is established when one species uses another as a means of transport and movement, without causing damage. An example of forest occurs when a mite uses the abdomen of certain types of beetles to move without spending energy.
• Commentaryism: One of the participating species (the diner) benefits from another (the host), without causing benefit or damage. Actually, within the term dinerism, you can encompass forest, epibiosis, tanatocreis and tenant.
• List: It occurs when one of the species lives in the shelter or burrow of another. An example of this relationship is between epiphytic plants and some types of trees or insects that inhabit the burrows of peasant mice.

Within the type (+)/(-) of relationships between species we find:

• Predation: Relationship that implies the capture and death of organisms (predators) over others (dams). Predation is a relationship between two species of free life, without anterior or direct relationship between them. It is one of the most important relationships from the point of view of natural selection and the same organism can be predator and in turn of others. The examples are numerous, such as the polar bear that predates seals and reindeer or the anthill with the termites and ants.
• Parasitism: An individual (parasite) lives at the expense of the fluids of another individual (host), who is harmed, but does not produce short -term death. They can be ectoparasites when they live outside the host, feeding on their blood or sap. An example of ectoparasite is the tick. On the contrary, endoparasites live in the internal environment of the host, evolving with him. An example of endoparasites are the intestinal worms or the Tricin. For example, in this other article we explain the parasites that affect plants.
• Exploitation: relationship in which a group of individuals are benefited from others, who are harmed. Within this category, depredation or parasitism can be encompassed.

In this type of relationship between species, the so -called (+)/(+) can find these two types and subtypes:

Symbiosis

In this type of relationship, both organisms (symbions) are benefited from some other process with which they have a close relationship. A classic and very frequent example is that of lichens, where a fungus (or mycobiont) benefits from the photosynthesis of an algae (ficobionte), which benefits from the protection of the fungus against factors such as desiccation.

You can learn more about symbiosis with this other article about what symbiosis with examples is and watching the video you will find below.

Mutualism

It is a type of relationship very similar to symbiosis, with the difference that the relationship between both organisms is not so intimate. We can differentiate it in turn in:

• Resource-Relation: One type of resource is exchanged for another. For example, rhizobia that set nitrogen and legumes, exchange nitrogen for carbohydrates or carbohydrates.
• NATURAL SERVICE RELATIONSHIP: An example is pollination, in which the nectar (natural resource) is exchanged for pollen dispersion (service). This is one of the reasons for the great importance of bees and other pollinating living beings.
• Service-service ratio: An example is the relationship between the sea anemone and the clown fish, which exchange protection (services).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csgoretdhsc

The relationship between types of the type (-)/(-) or (+) is the so-called competition. It is a relationship that is established between two species that compete for a resourceeither abiotic or biotic, such as water, territory, couple or food. It is one of the most important relationships from the point of view of natural selection, since it can determine that a species reduces its reproductive rate or, in extreme cases, is extinguished because it cannot be adapted to the competition. Could be:

• Exploitation competition: A species consumes and uses a more efficient resource, reducing its availability for others. An example is the competition between the aphids that consume the sap of the trees. In this case, the species of aphid that consumes more resource, leaves less for the other.
• Interference competition: A species directly interferes with the way of obtaining food and in the fact of obtaining it, in survival or reproduction of another species through acts such as aggression. An example is the territorial competition that occurs in ants.

If you want to read more articles similar to Interspecific relationships: types and exampleswe recommend that you enter our biology category.