Species Interaction and

Ecological Succession
Species Interaction
• It describes the relationships among
organisms of different species living in
the same location.
Examples include herbivores eating plants,
carnivores eating other animals, and organisms
competing for food, space, or mates.
 There are a vast
number of interactions
between species. Some
interactions are direct –
lions killing and eating
gazelle, or clownfish
living safely within the
tentacles of sea
anemones. But many
more interactions are
indirect, and therefore
less obvious.
 A consequence of the
direct and indirect
interactions between
species is that changes
in one species, for
example, changes in the
number of individuals,
their health, or their
geographic distribution,
will almost certainly
affect other species and
other parts of the Earth
system.
 Ecological Succession

• Ecological succession is the process by which natural

communities replace (or “succeed”) one another over time.

• Ecological succession is a fundamental concept in ecology. The

study of succession was pioneered at the University of Chicago by
Henry Chandler Cowles, who was also one of the founders of
ecology as a discipline, as he studied the plants of the Indiana
Dunes.
 Ecological Succession

For example, when an old farm field in the

midwestern U.S. is abandoned and left alone for many
years, it gradually becomes a meadow, then a few
bushes grow, and eventually, trees completely fill in
the field, producing a forest.
There are two major types of Ecological
Succession: Primary Succession and
Secondary Succession.
 Primary succession happens when a new patch of land is created or exposed for the
first time. This can happen, for example, when lava cools and creates new rocks, or
when a glacier retreats and exposes rocks without any soil. During primary
succession, organisms must start from scratch. First, lichens might attach themselves
to rocks, and a few small plants able to live without much soil might appear. These are
known as “pioneer species.”

Primary succession begins

when no plant life is present
on the landscape, such as after
a lava flow or glacial retreat.
Over centuries, soil forms and
deepens and successive
communities of plants grow.
 Secondary succession happens when a climax community or intermediate
community is impacted by a disturbance. This restarts the cycle of succession,
but not back to the beginning—soil and nutrients are still present.

Secondary succession
begins after a disturbance,
like a fire. Crucially, some
soil and nutrients remain
present—fire, in fact, may
help recycle those nutrients.
 A climax community is the “endpoint” of
succession within the context of a particular
climate and geography.

A climax community will persist in a given location

until a disturbance occurs. However, in many
ecosystems, disturbance occurs frequently enough
that a matrix of community types may be
consistently present on the landscape.
 In "climax communities," like redwood
forests on the Pacific coast of North
America, the species composition might
change very little for decades or even
centuries, with ancient trees dominating the
canopy and infrequent disturbances creating
few opportunities for new plants to establish
themselves.
Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash
 Competition
• can be defined as an interaction between
organisms or species, in which the fitness
of one is lowered by the presence of
another. Competition is often for a resource
such as food, water, or territory in limited
supply, or for access to females for
reproduction (Begon et al. 1996).

• Competition among members of the same

species is known as INTRASPECIFIC
competition, while competition between
individuals of different species is known as
INTERSPECIFIC competition.
Two types of competition:

INTRASPECIF INTERSPECIF
IC IC
• INTRASPECIFIC competition occurs when two or more
individuals of the same species simultaneously demand
use of a limited resource (Wilson, 1975).

• INTERSPECIFIC competition occurs between

organisms of two different species who compete directly
or indirectly for limiting resources.
 Symbiosis
• defined as a close, prolonged association between two or more
different biological species.
• This relationship can be symbiotic (mutualistic), where both parties
involved benefit from the interaction, or it can be parasitic, where
one party benefits while the other is harmed.

Some examples of symbiosis

Lactobacillus and humans, cells and mitochondria, ants and fungi, goby
fish and snapping shrimp, coral and algae, and cleaner fish
 Commensilism
Literally, commensalism is a Latin word that means ‘to eat at the same
table’.

In biology, commensalism is a unique relationship between two

species wherein one species draws food, shelter, or transport from the
other without harming it. The interaction duration between two species
varies from short to long. It is a kind of symbiotic relationship; however,
one of the partners is neither benefited nor harmed. The partner that
draws the benefit is known as a commensal while the other one is known
as the host species
 Example:

The simplest example is a bird making a nest in a tree.

The tree provides shelter and protection to the bird
without getting significantly harmed or affected by the
bird.
 Mutualism
• The term mutualism can be simply defined as a relationship in
which both species are mutually benefited. This relationship can
either be within the species or between the two different species.
The species with this relationship is termed as symbionts.

Mutual relationship is seen in all living organisms including human

beings, animals, birds, plants and other microorganisms like bacteria,
virus, and fungi. Mutualism is a sort of symbiosis.
Mutualism is a type of relationship between the host and
a symbiont, where both organisms benefit and no one is
harmed. This relationship may either continue for longer
or for shorter-term. The term mutualist is used to indicate
the small partner and the host are the other partners
present in the Mutualism.
 Parasitism
>is an interaction between two different species in which one species,
the parasite, feeds or lives off of the resources of another species, the host,
without directly killing it.

Parasitism can take many different forms, ranging from external

parasites that dwell on the surface of a host and consume its resources to
internal parasites that live within the host's body and feed on its tissues.
One example of parasitism is the relationship between
mosquitoes and some species of fungus. Some species
of mosquitoes act as vectors for the transmission of
certain fungal toxins. When the mosquitoes bite a
host, they inject toxic fungal spores into the host's
blood, which causes a dangerous fungal infection. The
fungus uses the mosquito as a means of transportation
and a source of nutrients, while the mosquito is
unaffected by the fungus. This is an example of
parasitism in which the fungus is the parasite and the
mosquito is the host.
 Cooperation
• Cooperation in species interaction and ecological
succession refers to instances where different
species work together in ways that benefit one
another or the ecosystem as a whole. This
cooperation can take various forms and plays a
crucial role in shaping ecological communities and
the process of succession
In ecological succession, which is the gradual process by which
ecosystems change and develop over time, cooperation among
species can occur at different stages:

1. Early Succession - In the early stages of succession, pioneer species

often pave the way for other species by modifying the environment in
ways that make it more suitable for colonization.

2. Mid-Succession - As succession progresses, different species may

engage in mutualistic relationships where they provide resources or
services to each other.
 3. Late Succession - In later stages of succession, stable and diverse
communities may form, with various species interacting in complex
ways. Cooperation can still occur through mutualistic relationships,
symbiosis, or facilitation, helping to maintain ecosystem stability and
resilience.
Overall, cooperation in species interaction and ecological succession
is essential for promoting biodiversity, ecosystem function, and
resilience to environmental changes. It allows species to maximize
resource use, enhance habitat quality, and adapt to changing
conditions, ultimately contributing to the health and sustainability of
ecosystems.
 Predator & Prey
• Predators hunt and consume prey for sustenance, while prey are
organisms hunted and consumed by predators. This dynamic interaction
is crucial for ecosystem balance.
• Predators regulate prey populations, preventing overpopulation and
habitat destruction. Prey develops defense mechanisms to evade
predation, while predators evolve hunting strategies for success.
Understanding this relationship is essential for ecosystem health and
conservation efforts.
• Predator-prey relationships are crucial in maintaining ecosystem balance.
Predators hunt and consume prey, regulating prey populations. This
helps prevent overpopulation of prey species, which could lead to
resource depletion and habitat destruction.
 Prey species develop defense mechanisms, such as camouflage or speed,
to evade predation. Predators, in turn, evolve strategies to improve hunting
success.

The interaction between predators and prey influences biodiversity and

ecosystem stability. Changes in predator or prey populations can have
cascading effects throughout the ecosystem. Human activities, such as
habitat destruction and overhunting, can disrupt these relationships.
Conservation efforts aim to preserve predator-prey dynamics for
ecosystem health.
 For example:

The interaction between wolves and deer in the forests.

Wolves act as predators, preying on deer to meet their
nutritional needs. Deer, as prey, exhibit alertness and agility to
avoid wolf attacks, contributing to the coexistence of both
species in the ecosystem.
Thank you!