Name: Christian Joseph T. Canama
ID no.: 2000028
Date: July 13, 2023
Section Code: GEL104NU
COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS
The Three Types of Community Interactions:
1. Competition
2. Predation
3. Symbiosis – (a) Mutualism, (b) Commensalism, (c) Parasitism
1.
COMPETITION
- Competition is a crucial aspect of animal interactions, where individuals or
groups contend for limited resources. Lions provide an example of such community
competition. Within a lion pride, both males and females compete differently. Male
lions vie for dominance and mating rights by challenging and overthrowing the
current dominant male. These confrontations involve roaring, intimidation, and
physical combat. The successful challenger becomes the new leader.
Female lions compete for resources like food and protection for their offspring.
Dominant females have priority access to food and must defend their position against
subordinate females and cubs. Competition in the lion community influences their
social structure and behavior, shaping their chances of survival and reproduction.
2.
PREDATION
-Predation is a significant community interaction in the animal kingdom,
where one organism captures and consumes another for sustenance. Two examples of
predation include great white sharks preying on seals in marine ecosystems and
African wild dogs hunting ungulates in African savannas. Great white sharks rely on
their speed and powerful jaws to capture seals, while African wild dogs use teamwork
and cooperation to chase down and bring down their prey. These predatory
interactions have profound effects on population dynamics, species distributions, and
ecological balance, shaping the behavior and evolution of both predators and prey.
Name: Christian Joseph T. Canama
ID no.: 2000028
Date: July 13, 2023
Section Code: GEL104NU
3.
SYMBIOSIS
Symbiosis is a type of community interaction in the animal kingdom where two
species live in close association with each other, often resulting in benefits or harm.
There are three common forms of symbiotic relationships: mutualism, commensalism,
and parasitism.
(a) Mutualism:
Oxpeckers and Large Mammals: Oxpeckers, also known as tickbirds, have a
mutualistic relationship with large mammals like zebras, giraffes, and rhinos. The
oxpeckers feed on ticks, fleas, and other ectoparasites that infest the mammals' skin.
In return, the mammals receive relief from the parasites, as well as early warning
signals from the vigilant oxpeckers when predators approach.
(b) Commensalism:
Remora Fish and Sharks: Remora fish have a commensal relationship with sharks.
Remoras have a specialized dorsal fin that forms a suction cup, allowing them to
attach themselves to the shark's body. They benefit by gaining easy access to leftover
food scraps from the shark's meals, while the shark is unaffected by their presence.
(c) Parasitism:
Ticks and Birds or Mammals: Ticks are parasites that attach themselves to the skin of
birds or mammals to feed on their blood. They can transmit diseases and cause
various health issues to their hosts. Ticks extract nourishment from the host's blood
while negatively affecting their well-being.