Inter-Relationship Among Living Things

Topic Content:

Competition:

This involves the interactions between two organisms of the same or different species, in which one outgrows the other and survives; while the other can neither grow nor survive.

Competition is based on: Environmental resources which can be in short supply such as food, water, nutrients, gases, light and space. When the competition is between members of the same species, it is called intraspecific competition ; while it is called interspecific competition when it is between members of different species.

Examples of Competitive Associations:

Flowering Plants and Grasses: The flowering plants due to their size and numerous branches and leaves are capable of eliminating the grasses by depriving them of nutrients, space and sunlight.

Domestic Fowls and the Young Chicks: Adult domestic fowls are capable of eliminating young chicks by depriving the chicks of food in the pen. The young chicks may eventually die.

Parasitism:

This is a feeding relationship or association between two organisms, in which the parasite lives in or on the body of the host, deriving benefit from and causing harm to it while the host loses in the process.

Examples of Parasitism:

Man