Ecological relationships describe the interactions between different species in an ecosystem. Some common types include:
1. **Predation:**
- **Definition:** One organism (predator) captures and feeds on another (prey).
- **Example:** Lions hunting zebras on the African savanna.
2. **Competition:**
- **Definition:** Organisms compete for limited resources, such as food, water, or territory.
- **Example:** Plants in a forest competing for sunlight and nutrients.
3. **Mutualism:**
- **Definition:** Both species benefit from the interaction.
- **Example:** Bees pollinating flowers; the bee gets nectar, and the flower gets pollinated.
4. **Commensalism:**
- **Definition:** One organism benefits, and the other is neither helped nor harmed.
- **Example:** Barnacles on a whale; the barnacles get a free ride, and the whale is unaffected.
5. **Parasitism:**
- **Definition:** One organism (parasite) benefits at the expense of another (host).
- **Example:** Fleas on a dog; the fleas get blood, and the dog is harmed.
6. **Amensalism:**
- **Definition:** One organism is harmed, and the other is unaffected.
- **Example:** Walnut trees producing juglone, a substance toxic to certain plants growing nearby.
These relationships play a crucial role in shaping the structure and dynamics of ecosystems.