Species Interactions

Why are ecological interactions important?

Interactions can affect distribution and
abundance
Interactions can influence evolution
Interactions form the structure of
communities and ecosystems

Niche
Describes an organisms use of resources
and its functional role in a community
Affected by organisms tolerance and
competitive interactions
Includes: habitat, food sources,
reproduction, and species interaction
ie. Summary of everything an organism
does and when and where it does it

Types of ecological interactions

Competition
Predation
Parasitism
Symbiosis
Mutualism
Commensalism
Symbiosis

Competition two species share a requirement for a

limited resource reduces fitness of one or both species

Outcomes of Competition

Competitive exclusion
One species excludes another from a resource
all together other species dies out

Resource partitioning
Species partition/divide resources

Character displacement
Evolution of physical characteristics among
competing species

Predation one species feeds on another enhances

fitness of predator but reduces fitness of prey

herbivory is a form of
predation

Predator Prey Interactions

Produce population cycles
Lead to adaptations (evolution)

Better hunters, more elaborate defenses

Can cause an arms race

Each species develops a stronger weapon in
response to the other

Parasitism one species feeds on another enhances

fitness of parasite but reduces fitness of host

Symbiosis two species live together and at least

organism benefits
can include parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism

Mutualism two species provide resources or services

to each other enhances fitness of both species

Commensalism one species receives a benefit from

another species enhances fitness of one species; no
effect on fitness of the other species

Herbivory
Animal feeds on a
plant; does not
kill it directly
Plants evolved a
number of
defenses against
animals

Chemicals,
thorns, spines,
irritation hairs

Organizing ecological interactions

effect on species 1

effect on
species 2

mutualism

commensalism

predation
herbivory
parasitism

commensalism

predation
herbivory
parasitism
competition

competition

competition