Interspecific relationships

Annotations:

• Interspecific relationships are those in which interaction usually takes place between two or more individuals belonging to different species. Such relationships occur within the ecosystem and generally have to do with satisfying the food or other needs of at least one of the individuals involved.

1. Inquilinism (+,0)

   Annotations:

   • This is a type of commensalism. It is a relationship between two individuals of different species in which one of them, the inquiline, lives on or inside another organism, which acts as a host. The tenant benefits by obtaining protection, a means of transport or even food from the host, without any benefit or detriment to the host.
2. Comensalism (+,0)

   Annotations:

   • Such relationships are beneficial to one of the two individuals involved (called the commensal), without causing any harm or discomfort to the other organism.
3. Symbiosis (+,+)

   Annotations:

   • This is a type of mutualism in which there is a very close degree of cooperation between species, so much so that they live together in intimate association, often to the point of being indistinguishable from each other. This cooperation usually has benefits for both (or at least one) of the species. The result of this cooperation is called a symbiont.
4. Competition (-,-)

   Annotations:

   • This type occurs when two species benefit from the same niche, either by feeding on its resources or by obtaining some form of welfare, but cannot do so at the same time or peacefully, so they must fight for access to the resource and somehow deter the other species from seeking some other source of food.
5. Mutualism (+,+)

   Annotations:

   • In this type the association between the two species is mutually beneficial, being useful to both feeders. Often this involves some degree of tolerance or explicit cooperation between them.
6. Parasitism (-,+)

   Annotations:

   • This interspecific relationship also causes harm to one of the two members involved, while benefiting the other. It is similar in that sense to predation, except that the damage is not massive and immediate, but slower and more prolonged in time, as the parasite species consumes fluids or tissues of the parasitised one, which suffers the consequences.
7. Predation (-,+)

   Annotations:

   • In this type, harm (death) is caused to one of the two species involved, as the other species feeds on it, destroying and consuming its tissues. The consuming species is called the predator and the consumed species is known as the prey.