The relationship between organisms: types, forms and examples. Interaction between living organisms in the ecosystem

Nature is beautiful and diverse. Existing on one planet, plants and animals were forced to learn to coexist with each other. The relationship between organisms is a difficult, but interesting topic that will help to better understand the world around us.

Types of relationships

There are different types of relationships between living organisms among themselves. But scientists divide them into three large groups.

The first group combines all those types of relationships between organisms, which can be called positive, the result of which helps to exist without contradictions to two organisms.

The second group includes those types of relationships, which are called negative. As a result of the interaction of two organisms, only one benefits from the benefits, and the second is depressed. Sometimes the latter may even die as a result of such a relationship. This group also includes such interaction of organisms, which adversely affects both the first and second individuals.

The third group is considered the smallest. This group includes relationships between organisms that do not bring either benefit or harm to both sides.

Positive types of relationships between organisms

In order to exist in the world, you need to find allies and assistants. This is what many plants and animals are engaged in during their evolutionary development. As a result, there are connections, both sides of which benefit from the relationship. Or those relationships that are beneficial only to one side, and the second they do not harm.

Positive relationships, which are also called symbiosis, are diverse. Currently, there is cooperation, mutualism and commensalism.

Cooperation

Cooperation is a relationship between living organisms, where both sides benefit. Most often this benefit is in the production of food. But sometimes one of the parties receives from the other not only food, but also protection. Very interesting are such relationships between organisms. Examples can be seen in the animal kingdom in different parts of the planet.

One of them is the cooperation of the hermit crab and the sea anemone. Thanks to anemia, the cancer takes shelter and protection from other inhabitants of the water space. Without a hermit crab, an actinia can not move. But the cancer allows you to expand the radius of food search. In addition, what does not eat Actinium, go down to the bottom and get cancer. This means that both sides benefit from this relationship.

Another example is the relationship between rhinoceroses and ox-birds. Such relationships between organisms allow one side to find food. Breeding birds eat insects, which in abundance live on a huge rhinoceros. The rhinoceros are also useful neighbors. Thanks to these birds, he can lead a healthy life and not worry about insects.

Commensalism

Commensalism is the relationship between organisms in ecosystems, when one of the organisms benefits, and the second from these relationships does not experience any inconvenience, but also does not benefit. This kind of relationship is also called sponging.

Sharks are creepy sea predators. But for fish-stuck they become a chance to survive and protect themselves from other aquatic predators that are weak compared to sharks. Fish-sticks get benefits from sharks. But they themselves do not do them any good. At the same time, there is no harm. For the shark, such relationships remain unnoticed.

In the burrows of rodents, you can find not only cubs, but also a huge number of different insects. The burrow created by the beast becomes a home for them. It is here that they find not only shelter, but also protection from those animals that like to eat them. In the burrow of a rodent to an insect this is not terrible. In addition, here they can find enough food to lead a life without trouble. Rodents do not experience any difficulties from such types of relationships.

Negative types of relationships between organisms

Existing together on the planet, animals can not only help each other, but also cause harm. It is not easy to learn these relationships between organisms. The table will help students and students.

Types of relationships that are considered negative, in turn, are also divided into several types. Among them there are those from which one side benefits, and the second harm, and there are those when both sides suffer. Negative examples are predation, parasitism and competition.

Predation

What predation is, everyone can tell without preparation. This is the relationship between organisms, when one side benefits and the other side suffers. In order to better understand who feeds, it is possible to compile food chains. And then it is easy to find out that many herbivores become food of other animals. At the same time, predators can also be someone's food.

Despite the fact that hedgehogs are often depicted in pictures with apples and mushrooms, they are predators. Jerzy eat small rodents. But they can not feel secure either. They can be eaten by foxes. In addition, foxes, like wolves, feed on hares.

Parasitism

Parasitism is the kind of relationship where one organism benefits from another. But the parasite most often tries to do so that the second organism does not die. Otherwise, the parasite will have to look for a new habitat and a new source of food for itself. Or die.

Parasites are found among animals and plants. For example, almost every inhabitant of the middle belt saw a mushroom tinder. It is such a living organism, which is conveniently arranged on the trunk of a tree and sometimes grows to an incredible size. This fungus is not so easy to remove from the trunk. It is fixed very securely. Thanks to the tree, the mushroom receives food, as well as the place of residence.

There are a huge number of worms that live at the expense of a stronger organism with a complex organization. Perhaps, the most famous worm-parasite is the human ascaris. White worms can be of different sizes. They live not only in the intestines. In especially neglected cases, they can find shelter in different parts of the body. Thanks to man, Ascaris always has food. In addition, in the human body, that temperature and those conditions that are necessary for the worms to safely exist and multiply. The presence of a large number of ascarids in the human body causes inconvenience, as well as many problems that only the doctor can solve.

In the bodies of other animals, worms and parasites also often settle. Among them, we can note, for example, the liver flukes. Such a relationship between organisms becomes a real disaster for people. And especially for those engaged in animal husbandry or gardening. The damage inflicted on agriculture by parasites is immeasurable.

Competition

Despite the bloodthirsty predators leading the hunt for weaker animals day and night, competition is considered the most brutal type of relationship between organisms. After all, such is the struggle for a place under the sun among representatives of one species. And the means for obtaining the necessary amount of food or better housing for each species of their own.

The fight is won by stronger and dexterous beasts. Strong wolves get a good booty, while others remain either to feed on other, less nutritious animals, or to die of hunger. A similar struggle is also being waged between plants to get as much moisture or sunlight as possible.

Neutral relationship

There are also such types of relationships between organisms, when both sides do not benefit or harm. Despite the fact that they live in the same territory, absolutely nothing unites them. If one of the sides of this relationship disappears from the face of the planet, then the second side does not directly affect it.

So, in warm countries, different herbivores eat leaves of the same tree. Giraffes eat those leaves that are on top. They are the most juicy and delicious. And other herbivores are forced to eat the remains that grow lower. Giraffes do not interfere with them and do not take away food. After all, low animals can not reach those leaves that eat high. And high there is no sense to bend over and take away food from others.

There are different forms of relationships between organisms. And to learn them all is not so simple. But it's important to remember that everything in nature is interconnected. Most often, animals and plants influence each other positively or negatively, and rarely affect in any way. But even if they are not directly related, this does not mean that the disappearance of one can not lead to the death of another. The relationship between organisms is an important part of the surrounding world.