Question

1/ a/ Explain how each of these relationships may affect the distribution of animals: predator-prey, parasite-host, competition, mutualism, commensalism.

b/ Outline the evolutionary effects of predator-prey relationships on the characteristics of both the prey and the predator.

Answer 1

1 a.

Predator-prey relationships: In this case the act of killing and eating of prey by predators. In this case the biotic potential is less.

parasite host relationship: Parasite host relationship is very specific having biotic potential is the more producing number of progeny parasite genrally does not kill the host.

Competition: It is a competition by one or more different species to the same resources thus reducing the reproductive potential. The interaction can be categorized into interspecific and intraspecific. Interspecific competition is between two different species and infraspecific competition is between the same species. The interspecific competition can be exploitation and interference Exploitation competition is when two different species are fighting for the same resources without coming in direct contact with them whereas interference is when two species come in direct contact between them for the resources. The intraspecific competition is more intense than the interspecific competition as they are competing for the same resources.  

Mutualism: It is a symbiotic relationship between two different individuals in which both benefits from each other. It can be obligate and facultative. Obligate mutualism is when the symbionts can not survive when they are separated. Examples: Lichens are symbionts of fungus and alga. Facultative mutualism is also called proto cooperation. In this case, both organisms can benefit from each other by close associations but not obligatory.

Commensalism: In this case of interaction where one organism benefits from other whereas the other one neither gets harm nor benefitted. Examples: The remora fish live in close associations of the sharks and other sharks.