In the world of nature, relations between living creatures are extremely diverse. Animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms differ greatly from each other in their way of life and body structure. At the same time, they live side by side and are constantly in contact. Scientists distinguish between types of communication between organisms, as well as types of relationships that can be positive, neutral and negative.
Types of connection in an ecosystem
- Trophic. One organism or population lives in a given biotope because food is found in this area: animals that are hunted by individuals of this species, or plants that they consume. Animals do not leave this area, as this is a good place for life, breeding. There is food here. An indirect trophic relationship is observed between competitive species. For example, a fox and an owl hunt the same prey - mice.
- Topic. Some species change living conditions, for other species such changes are just right for life. For example, where pines grow, blueberries grow. There is a topical relationship between these species. Blueberries don't grow in fields, they gravitate towards pine forests.
- Phoric. One species of organisms spreadsanother. Distributors are animals. Zoochory - carry pollen, seeds, spores of plants. For example, a dog passes next to a burdock. The thorn with seeds clings to the wool. Such seeds are torn off by chance at some distance from the place of growth of the mother plant. Phoresia - organisms carry smaller animals. How a flea-infested cat can leave small invertebrates miles away from where they landed.
- Factory made. Some organisms use other organisms or their waste products for buildings. Birds build nests from branches, moss, fluff. Beavers build dams out of trees. At the same time, organisms will not be able to build nests, houses and other structures without the necessary materials. They settle where such materials can be obtained. A bird that has to insulate its nest with moss will not dwell where there is none.
Let's consider the types of relationships in an ecosystem.
Obligate Mutualism
In this case, two species are connected so that they die without each other. For example, a lichen is a symbiosis of a fungus and an algae. Or the symbiotic bacteria digesting fiber in the rumen of a cow and the ruminant itself.
Protocooperation
Two organisms of different species help each other. If they are together, then the life of each of them is much easier. Protocooperation is optional mutualism. For example, insects. Many of them are related to angiosperms. Insect pollinated plants need invertebrate pollinators. Someone has to carry the pollenon a female or bisexual flower, otherwise there will be no fruits with seeds. Reproduction is extremely important for any species.
Bumblebees, bees, butterflies feed on nectar. Without those same insect-pollinated plants, it would be difficult for them to survive. This example is a proto-operation. Because an insect in the absence of one type of plant can replace it with another. Such an optional connection is a proto-cooperation, an facultative mutualism. Unlike another example: only a bumblebee can pollinate a clover. Because only he has such a long proboscis that reaches the nectar of this type of plant.
Protocooperation is an extremely interesting relationship in the world of wildlife. It gives scientists a great base for research.
For example, pine trees will not grow he althy and tall without symbiont mushrooms. People decided to organize plantings of acacia. Acacia died until scientists realized that there were no suitable fungi in the soil. Mushrooms themselves - mushrooms, fly agaric, russula - do not form fruiting bodies (the fungus itself) without tree species.
Protocooperation is an important part of the ecosystem. It was shaped by evolution and is now an integral part of the natural world.
Commensalism
One organism uses another, while the second does not suffer from this and does not receive any benefit either. For example, a hyena eats the leftovers of a meal of another larger predator. At the same time, a lion or leopard may not even notice the lack of food that they have already abandoned. Large predators by that time hunt a new prey. And hyenas eat. Foraging in the animal world takes up most of the time. A large predator provided food for a whole flock of hyenas.
Pasitism
One organism lives and feeds on another. In this case, the owner suffers, but does not die. It is beneficial for the parasite to live longer. Glochidia on the gills of fish prolong the life of the owners in order to have time to complete their life cycle stage.
Predation
In this case, there is a victim who often dies. Predation is also called the eating of plants by herbivores. Like a cow eating grass.
Neutralism
Two organisms, living on the same biotope, do not affect each other in any way. For example, a butterfly and a tiger.
Antibiosis
This is a relationship where one or both organisms harm the other. The competition belongs to this category: the wolf and the fox hunt the hare.
There are such different types of relationships in an ecosystem. Nature is rich in organisms of various structures. The relationship between them is of interest to both a simple observer and a scientist.
