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Define interspecific competition, mutualism, predation, herbivory, and parasitism, and provide examples ?

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Final answer:

Interspecific competition involves different species competing for limited resources, potentially influencing evolution through natural selection. Mutualism, predation, herbivory, and parasitism are interaction types where species may benefit, consume, or harm each other, contributing to ecological dynamics and community structure.

Step-by-step explanation:

Interspecific competition is when different species compete for a limited resource in an ecosystem. For example, lions and hyenas might compete for prey in the African savanna. If the prey is scarce, one species may outcompete the other, leading to decreased population growth for the less adaptable species. This can also contribute to evolution through natural selection as the competing species adapt to maximize their chances of survival and reproductive success.

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit. An example is the relationship between bees and flowers, where bees get nectar and pollen for food and the flowers get pollinated. Predation refers to a relationship where one organism, the predator, hunts and eats another organism, the prey, such as a wolf hunting a deer.

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User Avi Dubey
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