Population Interaction

A plant species, which makes its food, cannot survive alone. It needs soil microorganisms to break down the organic matter and return the inorganic nutrients for reuse. Animals help the plant in the pollination and dispersal of fruits and seeds and provide carbon dioxide for the preparation of food. Animals, plants and microbes cannot live in isolation.

So, what is interaction in ecology? They interact in various ways to form a biological community. These population interactions are also called biotic factors of the environment. Check for population interaction notes! 

Population Interaction: Meaning

Population interaction meaning is the interaction between various populations. It refers to the consequences that the organism in a community has on one another. The population of different species living in a habitat often interact in various ways. These are called interspecific interactions. These interactions could be beneficial, harmful or neutral to one of the species or both. 

Population Interactions: Notes 

Population interaction consists of two types of interaction that are –

1. Negative Interaction

2. Positive Interaction

1. Negative Interactions  

Negative interactions among populations include predation, parasitism, competition and amensalism. 

Predation 

• Predation is the direct food relation between two organisms of different species in which one animal captures, kills and feeds upon another animal

• The one animal captured is called a predator and the other animal is called prey

• Example – Familiar examples of predator-prey relationships are between tigers and deer

• Species like Frogs may be both prey and predator

• Cannibalism is a special form of predation in which predator and prey belong to the same species

Parasitism 

Parasitism is a food relationship between organisms of two different species in which the smaller one lives on or within the larger one and I gained its food from it. The former which obtains food is known as a parasite and the latter which provides food and shelter to the parasite is called the host. In the host-parasite relationship, the parasite is benefited but the host is harmed or not affected. Parasitology is the science that deals with various aspects of parasites such as life cycle, mode of infection, effect on the host, etc. 

Competition 

Competition is the interaction that involves a struggle among organisms for the same resources, such as water, nutrients, space, sunlight, food, etc. 

Two types of competition are there: When both the competitors belong to the same species it is called intraspecific competition (internecine) and when competition is among the individuals of different species, it is termed interspecific competition (internecine).

Amensalism 

Amensalism is an interaction in which the presence of one species does not allow individuals of other species to grow or live. Inhibition is achieved through the secretion of some alchemical. This is also called antibiosis.  

2. Positive Interactions 

Positive interaction is seen in commensalism, mutualism (symbiosis) and protocooperation.

Commensalism 

Commensalism is an association between two different organisms in which one is always benefited but the other is neither benefited nor harmed. In some cases, the host also derived some benefits. The species that derive benefit is called commensal and the other is called the host.

Commensals derive benefit the most in the form of food, protection, shelter, living space or transportation. 

Examples – Escherichia oil, Entamoeba oil, PilotFish and Shark. 

Mutualism or Symbiosis

Mutualism is an interaction between two organisms of different species where both the partners are benefited but none of the two is capable of living separately. 

Examples – Lichens, Mycorrhiza, Myrmechophily. 

Protocooperation

Protocooperation is an association between organisms of different species in which both were mutually benefited but can live without each other. It means proto cooperation is equally beneficial for both but is not obligatory. 

Examples – Sea-anemone and Hermit Crab

Conclusion 

Interactive ways in a biological community where plant species, microorganisms as well as animals in a combined state help in the maintaining of the ecological balance in the environment is coined as interaction in ecology. These population interactions can be called biotic factors of the environment. Its interaction between various populations refers to the consequences that the organism in a community has on one another. The interactions can be harmful as well as neutral to the species or both.