Ecological Relationships

In an ecosystem, there are three general types of interactions between populations – symbiosis, predator-prey relationships or competition – that are happening constantly.  Ecologists observe interactions in ecosystems, collect data, make predictions and design action or share recommendations for laws that will help protect the fine balance in nature.  

Symbiosis means “living together”.  There are three types of symbiosis – mutualism, commensalism and parasitism. In mutualism, both organisms benefit from their interaction. An example in the temperate forest is the interaction between bees and flowering plants.  Bees help pollinate the flowering plants and the plants provide bees with a food source. In commensalism, one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed in the interaction.  An example in the tropical rainforest is the interaction between orchids and canopy trees.  Orchids growing on canopy trees obtain a place to live and nutrients and the canopy trees are neither helped nor harmed.  In parasitism, one organism is helped in the interaction and one is harmed.  An example in the marine biome and freshwater biome is the interaction between lamprey and larger fish.  Lamprey use a sucker disc to attach to larger fish to obtain nutrients, which harms the larger fish.