Identify and describe 4 types of species interactions. __ Your answer

1. **Competition:** This interaction occurs when two or more species require the same limited resource, such as food, water, shelter, or sunlight. Competition negatively impacts both species involved, as the availability of the resource is reduced for everyone. Competition can be *interspecific* (between different species) or *intraspecific* (within the same species). An example is lions and hyenas competing for the same prey in the African savanna. The more successful competitor will have greater access to the resource, potentially leading to the decline or displacement of the less successful competitor.<br /><br />2. **Predation:** This interaction involves one species (the predator) killing and consuming another species (the prey). Predation benefits the predator by providing it with a food source, while it obviously harms the prey. Predation plays a crucial role in regulating populations and shaping evolutionary adaptations. Examples include a wolf hunting a deer, a spider trapping a fly in its web, or a hawk capturing a mouse. Prey species often develop defenses like camouflage, mimicry, or toxins to avoid being eaten.<br /><br />3. **Mutualism:** This interaction benefits both species involved. Each species receives something positive from the relationship. An example is the relationship between bees and flowers. Bees obtain nectar from flowers as a food source, and in the process, they transfer pollen, enabling the flowers to reproduce. Another example is the symbiotic relationship between certain bacteria and humans. The bacteria in our gut help us digest food, and in return, they receive a stable environment and nutrients.<br /><br />4. **Parasitism:** This interaction benefits one species (the parasite) while harming the other (the host). The parasite typically lives on or in the host, obtaining nutrients from it. Unlike predation, parasitism doesn't usually result in the immediate death of the host, but it can weaken the host and make it more susceptible to other threats. Examples include ticks feeding on the blood of a dog, tapeworms living in the intestines of a human, or mistletoe extracting nutrients from a tree.<br />