Ecological relationships are interactions that occur between living beings in an ecosystem. These relationships can be intraspecific (occur between individuals of the same species) or interspecific (occur between individuals of different species). They can also be classified as harmonic, when there is no harm to any of those involved, or disharmonious, when one of the parties is harmed.
Harmonic Intraspecific Relationships
Cooperation is a relationship in which all individuals involved benefit. An example is the formation of shoals by fish, which group together to protect themselves from predators. Society is another harmonious relationship, where there is division of labor between individuals, as in a bee colony. Colonies, in turn, are groupings where there is division of labor, but individuals are not independent, as occurs with corals.
Disharmonious Intraspecific Relationships
Intraspecific competition occurs when individuals of the same species compete for limited resources, such as food or territory. Cannibalism is a disharmonious relationship in which an individual kills and consumes another of the same species.
Harmonic Interspecific Relationships
Mutualism is a relationship in which both species involved benefit. An example is the relationship between bees and flowers, where bees feed on the nectar of flowers and, at the same time, help with pollination. Protocooperation is also a harmonious relationship, but, unlike mutualism, individuals can live separately without prejudice. An example is the relationship between the toothpick bird and the crocodile, where the bird feeds on leftover food in the mouth of the crocodile, which has its teeth clean.
Disharmonious Interspecific Relationships
Interspecific competition occurs when different species compete for limited resources. Predation is a relationship in which one individual, the predator, kills and consumes another, the prey. Parasitism is a relationship in which the parasite benefits at the expense of the host, causing harm. Amensalism or antibiosis is a relationship in which one species inhibits the growth or reproduction of another through the production of toxic substances.
Understanding ecological relationships is fundamental to understanding the functioning of ecosystems and population dynamics. Human interference can unbalance these relationships, causing negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability. Therefore, it is essential that measures are taken for the conservation and proper management of ecosystems.
In summary, ecological relationships are complex and varied, but all are fundamental to maintaining life on Earth. Studying these relationships is an important step towards understanding the complexity of life and the importance of preserving biodiversity.
