Identify patterns of interactions between organisms.
1. Predation: One organism hunts and consumes another organism for food.
2. Symbiosis: Two organisms of different species live together in a mutually beneficial relationship. This can be further categorized into:
- Mutualism: Both organisms benefit from the relationship (e.g. bees and flowers).
- Commensalism: One organism benefits while the other is unaffected (e.g. barnacles on whales).
3. Competition: Two or more organisms compete for the same limited resources, such as food, territory, or mates.
4. Parasitism: One organism benefits at the expense of another organism, typically by living in or on the host organism and deriving nutrients or other benefits.
5. Mutual exclusion: Two organisms cannot occupy the same niche at the same time, and one species outcompetes the other.
6. Commensal exploitation: One organism benefits from resources that were made available by another organism, without causing any harm or benefits for the host organism.
7. Predator-prey dynamics: A population of predators interacts with a population of prey, with fluctuations in one population affecting the abundance and dynamics of the other population.
8. Facilitation: One organism promotes the survival or growth of another, usually through environmental modification or protection.
9. Herbivory: Herbivorous organisms consume plant material as their primary source of food.
10. Pollination: Insects, birds, or other animals transfer pollen from one flower to another, enabling reproduction in plants.
11. Mating behaviors: Organisms engage in specific behaviors, such as courtship, to attract and mate with a suitable partner.
These are just a few examples of the patterns of interactions between organisms, and there are many more complex and diverse interactions that occur in ecosystems.