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Introduction
A community
is a group of different populations that live and interact with
one another. A community is distinguished by the various relationships
between different species, and its evolution over time.
A community
can be examined and described in several different ways:
- Species
Interaction
- Predation-In
a predator-prey relationship, the predator feeds on the prey.
It is a short-lived relationship, with the prey being killed.
For e.g.- cheetah feeds upon deer.
- Paratism-In
a parasite-host relationship, the parasite usually lives upon
or inside the host. The two are connected by a long, painful relationship.
Parasitism and predation are different in respect to the fact
that whereas a prey suffers an almost instantaneous death, a host
suffers perpetuating pain, often not resulting in death. For e.g.
- tapeworms
- Commensalism
- In commensalism, one organism derives benefits from its relationship
with another. The other organism is not affected in any way by
the relationship.
- Mutualism
- In a mutualistic relationship, both participating organisms
derive benefits from each other. This results in a steady, long
relationship.
- Competition
- Two different species interact when competing for the same resources:
prey, habitat, water, etc.
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