Question

Discuss the various types of positive interactions between species.

Answer 1

The interspecific interaction is of three types positive or beneficial, negative or antagonistic and last neutral interaction. Some positive interactions are scavenging, commensalism, protocooperation and mutualism.

Mutualism this interaction confers benefits on both the interacting species, e.g.,

1. Lichens represent an intimate mutualistic relationship between a fungus and photosynthesising algae or cyanobacteria.
2. The mycorrhizae are associations between fungi and the roots of higher plants. The fungi help the plant in the absorption of essential nutrients from the soil while the plant in turn provides the fungi with energy-yielding carbohydrates.
3. Plants offer nectar, juicy and nutritious fruits to animals that help pollinate their flowers and disperse their seeds.

Commensalism This is the interaction in which one species benefits without affecting the other, e.g.,

1. An orchid growing as an epiphyte on a mango branch.
2. Barnacles growing on the back of a whale.
3. The cattle egret goraging close to the cattle that stir up and flush out insects from the vegetation.
4. Sea anemone that has stinging tentacles and the clown fish that lives among them to get protection from predators.

Scavenging is the act of feeding by scavengers like bacteria and fungi on the remain of dead animals.

Protocooperation is the type of relationship in which both partners mutually obtain benefits. But they associate purely to benefit from each other and can live without each other.