In ecology, a biological interaction is the effect that a pair of organisms living together in a community have on each other. They can be either of the same species, or of different species. These effects may be short-term, or long-term, both often strongly influence the adaptation and evolution of the species involved. Biological interactions range from mutualism, beneficial to both partners, to competition, harmful to both partners. Interactions can be direct when physical contact is established or indirect, through intermediaries such as shared resources, territories, ecological services, metabolic waste, toxins or growth inhibitors. This type of relationship can be shown by net effect based on individual effects on both organisms arising out of relationship.
The black walnut secretes a chemical from its roots that harms neighboring plants, an example of competitive antagonism.
Predation is a short-term interaction, in which the predator, here an osprey, kills and eats its prey.
Pollination has driven the coevolution of flowering plants and their animal pollinators for over 100 million years.
Male-male interference competition in red deer
Ecology is the natural science of the relationships among living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere levels. Ecology overlaps with the closely related sciences of biogeography, evolutionary biology, genetics, ethology, and natural history.
Image: Bufo boreas
Image: Blue Linckia Starfish
Image: Hawk eating prey
Image: European honey bee extracts nectar
