Question

Define the following terms and give one example for each:
(a) Commensalism
(b) Parasitism
(c) Camouflage
(d) Mutualism
(e) Interspecific competition

Answer 1

(a) Commensalism: Commensalism 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.
(b) 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.
(c) Camouflage:It is a strategy adapted by prey species to escape their predators. Organisms are cryptically coloured so that they can easily mingle in their surroundings and escape their predators. Many species of frogs and insects camouflage in their surroundings and escape their predators.
(d) 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.
(e) Interspecific competition: It is an interaction between individuals of different species where both species get negatively affected. For example the competition between flamingoes and resident fishes in South American lakes for common food resources i. e. zooplankton.