Biotic interactions
Biotic interactions are different ways that organisms, typically from different species communicate or interact together. The different kinds of biotic interactions include competition, whether its for food, water or shelter. Predation, symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism, and last but not least, there is parasitism.
Competition-the struggle between organisms as they attempt to use the same limited resource.
Predation-when one organism kills another organism for food.
Symbiosis-when there is a close relationship between two different species that benefits at least one of the species.
Mutualism-a relationship between two species in which both species benefit.
Commensalism-a relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.
Parasitism-a relationship between two species in which one species, the parasite, benefits from the other species, the host, which is harmed.
Predation-when one organism kills another organism for food.
Symbiosis-when there is a close relationship between two different species that benefits at least one of the species.
Mutualism-a relationship between two species in which both species benefit.
Commensalism-a relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.
Parasitism-a relationship between two species in which one species, the parasite, benefits from the other species, the host, which is harmed.
Biotic Interactions are encounters that organisms have together. Having this said, there are different types of interactions and some are beneficial for only one organism but some are positive for all parties involved. Competition happens all around us. It can be regarding something small like a struggle to see which animal will be able to nest in that particular tree or it could be large, like when organisms compete for food and only one will survive and the other organism will become deceased. Another biotic interaction is predation. This occurs when one sadly consumes another to obtain energy and keep their own life. Symbiosis could be when there is some relationship between two organisms, for example the cattle egret will eat insects that have been disturbed when the cattle forage. One organism is greatly benefited while the other organism could be benefited but in this case it has not been harmed nor given benefits. Mutualism is the same technique however, both organisms are given benefits. For example, In the ocean, certain species, like shrimps and gobies, will clean fish. They remove parasites, dead tissue, and mucous. These shrimps and gobies are given protection by the fish. Commensalism is a relationship where one benefits but the other is left alone, unharmed or disturbed. The last type we are discussing is parasitism. In this the parasite organism benefits, while the host is affected in a negative way. An example for this is tapeworms. These organisms do more damage to their hosts because they eat partially digested food and that deprives the host of some food and nourishment.
A niche is the adaptations that an organism has that make it suited for a specific set of conditions and assign that organism a specific role in the ecosystem. An organism's niche is the type of food it eats, how it obtains its food, and which organisms depend on it for their source of food. A niche also affects how an organism reproduces and what physical conditions it needs to survive. If an organism's niche is specialized, the more vulnerable the organism is if/when the environment or conditions of it's ecosystem changes. |