will you differentiate the interactions between lichen and barnacles on the back of whale
Answers
1. Parasitism: It is an interaction between two species in which one species (usually smaller) gets positively affected, while the other species (usually larger) is negatively affected. An example of this is liver fluke. Liver fluke is a parasite that lives inside the liver of the host body and derives nutrition from it. Hence, the parasite is benefited as it derives nutrition from the host, while the host is negatively affected as the parasite reduces the host fitness, making its body weak.
2. Commensalism: It is an interaction between two species in which one species gets benefited while the other remains unaffected. An orchid growing on the branches of a mango tree and barnacles attached to the body of whales are examples of commensalisms.
3. Mutualism: It is an interaction between two species in which both species involved are benefited. For example, lichens show a mutual symbiotic relationship between fungi and blue green algae, where both are equally benefited from each other.
Answer:
The interspecific interaction are of three types positive or beneficial, negative or antagonistic and last neutral interaction. Some positive interactions are scavenging, commensalism, proto cooperation and mutualism, Mutualism This interaction confers benefits on both the interacting species, e.g., (i) Lichens represent an intimate mutualistic relationship between a fungus and photosynthesizing algae or cyanobacteria. (ii) 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. (iii)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. (i) An orchid growing as an epiphyte on a mango branch. (ii) Barnacles growing on the back of a whale. (iii) The cattle egret foraging close to the cattle that stir up and flush out insects from the vegetation. (iv) 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 scavenger like bacteria, fungi on the remain of dead animals. Proto cooperation in 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.