Biology: Interspecific and Intraspecific Relations

Interspecific and Intraspecific Relations

Competition

• Occurs when two or more individuals or species compete for the same limited resource
• Can be interspecific (between different species) or intraspecific (within the same species)
• Types of competition:
  • Exploitative competition: indirect competition for a shared resource
  • Interference competition: direct competition, where one individual interferes with another's access to the resource

Predation

• A predator-prey relationship where one species (predator) feeds on another species (prey)
• Can be interspecific (between different species) or intraspecific (within the same species)
• Examples: lion-zebra, hawk-mouse

Mutualism

• A relationship where both species benefit
• Examples:
  • Clownfish-anemone: clownfish gets protection, anemone gets cleaned
  • Bees-flowers: bees get nectar, flowers get pollinated

Coexistence

• A neutral relationship where species exist together without harming or benefiting each other
• Examples:
  • Different species of birds living in the same forest
  • Different species of fish living in the same aquarium

Symbiosis

• A close, long-term relationship between different species
• Types of symbiosis:
  • Mutualism (both species benefit)
  • Commensalism (one species benefits, the other is neutral)
  • Parasitism (one species benefits, the other is harmed)

Parental Care

• A behavior where parents invest time and energy in their offspring to increase their survival and reproductive success
• Examples:
  • Birds building nests and feeding their young
  • Mammals providing milk and protection to their young

Colony

• A group of individuals of the same species living together in a coordinated manner
• Examples:
  • Ant colonies with different castes (workers, queens, soldiers)
  • Bee colonies with a queen and worker bees

Commensalism

• A relationship where one species benefits and the other is neutral
• Examples:
  • Remora fish attaching themselves to sharks for food scraps
  • Bird species nesting on tree branches without harming the tree

State

• Not a type of interspecific or intraspecific relation, but rather a condition or status of an individual or population
• Examples:
  • A population's state of growth, decline, or stability
  • An individual's state of health, hunger, or reproduction

Interspecific and Intraspecific Relations

Competition

• Two or more individuals or species compete for the same limited resource
• Types of competition:
  • Exploitative competition: indirect competition for a shared resource
  • Interference competition: direct competition, where one individual interferes with another's access to the resource

Predation

• A predator-prey relationship where one species (predator) feeds on another species (prey)
• Examples: lion-zebra, hawk-mouse

Mutualism

• A relationship where both species benefit
• Examples:
  • Clownfish-anemone: clownfish gets protection, anemone gets cleaned
  • Bees-flowers: bees get nectar, flowers get pollinated

Coexistence

• A neutral relationship where species exist together without harming or benefiting each other
• Examples:
  • Different species of birds living in the same forest
  • Different species of fish living in the same aquarium

Symbiosis

• A close, long-term relationship between different species
• Types of symbiosis:
  • Mutualism (both species benefit)
  • Commensalism (one species benefits, the other is neutral)
  • Parasitism (one species benefits, the other is harmed)

Parental Care

• A behavior where parents invest time and energy in their offspring to increase their survival and reproductive success
• Examples:
  • Birds building nests and feeding their young
  • Mammals providing milk and protection to their young

Colony

• A group of individuals of the same species living together in a coordinated manner
• Examples:
  • Ant colonies with different castes (workers, queens, soldiers)
  • Bee colonies with a queen and worker bees

Commensalism

• A relationship where one species benefits and the other is neutral
• Examples:
  • Remora fish attaching themselves to sharks for food scraps
  • Bird species nesting on tree branches without harming the tree

State

• A condition or status of an individual or population
• Examples:
  • A population's state of growth, decline, or stability
  • An individual's state of health, hunger, or reproduction