Question

create a chart to list, define, and give two examples of each of the following ecosystem interactions: a.predation, intra-specific competition, inter-specific competition, b.competitive exclusion, niche, resource partition, c.mutualism, commensalism, parasitism

Answer 1

Predation, intra-specific competition, inter-specific competition, competitive exclusion, niche, resource partition, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Predation:

Predation is when a predator organism feeds on another living organism or organisms, known as prey. The predator always lowers the prey's fitness. Examples include the lion and zebra, the bear and fish, and the fox and rabbit.

Intra-specific competition:

Intra-specific competition occurs when individuals of the same species compete for limited resources, such as food, mates, or territory. Examples include lions competing for territory or mates, or plants competing for sunlight.

Inter-specific competition:

Inter-specific competition occurs when individuals of different species compete for limited resources. Examples include lions and hyenas competing for the same prey or plants competing for nutrients in the soil.

Competitive exclusion:

Competitive exclusion is a principle that states that two species competing for the same limited resource cannot coexist in the same environment for an extended period of time. One species will outcompete and exclude the other. An example is the competition between red and grey squirrels in North America, where the grey squirrels have outcompeted and displaced red squirrels in many areas.

Niche:

A niche refers to the role a species plays in its environment, including its habitat, the resources it uses, and its interactions with other species. Two species cannot occupy the same niche in the same ecosystem without one displacing the other. An example is how different bird species occupy different niches based on the types of seeds they eat or the heights at which they forage.

Resource partition:

Resource partitioning occurs when species divide limited resources to reduce competition. This can involve differences in feeding behavior, timing, or habitat use. An example is how different bird species that share the same forest may feed on different insects at different heights or times of day.

Mutualism:

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction. An example is the relationship between bees and flowers. Bees collect nectar as a food source, and in the process, they transfer pollen, helping the flowers reproduce.

Commensalism:

Commensalism is a relationship where one species benefits without harming the other. An example is the relationship between cattle egrets and grazing mammals. The egrets eat insects stirred up by the mammals as they graze, without harming or benefiting the mammals.

Parasitism:

Parasitism is a relationship where one species, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other species, the host. An example is the relationship between ticks and deer. Ticks feed on the blood of deer, which harms the deer but benefits the ticks.

Answer 2

Ecosystem Interactions:

• Predation: One organism preys on another for sustenance, such as lions hunting zebras or birds feeding on insects.
• Intra-specific competition: Individuals of the same species compete for resources like food or mates, seen in deer competing for mates or trees for sunlight.
• Inter-specific competition: Different species vie for the same resources, like lions and hyenas competing for a carcass or various plants for soil nutrients.
• Competitive exclusion: One species dominates another due to superior adaptations, as seen with invasive species displacing natives or larger fish outcompeting smaller ones.
• Niche: An organism's specific role in an ecosystem, encompassing its habitat and relationships, seen in woodpeckers feeding on tree insects or cacti thriving in arid environments.
• Resource partitioning: Species divide resources to reduce direct competition, evident in birds nesting at different tree heights or grazers consuming different vegetation heights in a grassland.
• Mutualism: Both species benefit from their interaction, like bees pollinating flowers while obtaining nectar.
• Commensalism: One species benefits while the other remains unaffected, as seen with barnacles on whales.
• Parasitism: One organism benefits at the expense of another, like tapeworms in mammals or fleas on pets causing harm while gaining sustenance.

The chart can be seen on the attachment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ecosystem interactions are the dynamic relationships between organisms and their environment, influencing the distribution, abundance, and behavior of species. Predation involves the consumption of one organism by another for sustenance. For instance, lions hunting zebras or birds preying on insects showcase this interaction.

Intra-specific competition occurs among individuals of the same species vying for shared resources such as food or mates. Male deer competing during mating season or trees competing for sunlight demonstrate this rivalry. Inter-specific competition involves different species contending for the same resources, like lions and hyenas fighting over a carcass or various plant species competing for soil nutrients.

Competitive exclusion leads to the dominance of one species over another due to superior adaptations or resource utilization. Invasive species displacing natives or larger fish outcompeting smaller ones illustrate this concept.

A niche refers to an organism's specific role in its ecosystem, encompassing its habitat, behavior, and relationships. Woodpeckers feeding on tree insects or cacti thriving in arid environments exemplify niche adaptation.

Resource partitioning occurs when species divide resources to reduce direct competition. Birds nesting at different tree heights or grazers consuming different vegetation heights in a grassland illustrate this strategy.

Mutualism benefits both species involved, like bees pollinating flowers while obtaining nectar. Commensalism benefits one species while the other remains unaffected, as seen with barnacles on whales. Parasitism benefits one at the expense of the other, like tapeworms in mammals or fleas on pets, causing harm while gaining sustenance. These interactions collectively shape the complexity and stability of ecosystems.