SPECIES INTERACTIONS

ALL POPULATION OF LIVING ORGANISMS EXISTS IN A NETWORK OF INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER POPULATION. MANY OF THESE INTERACTIONS ARE SUBTLE AND COMPLEX WHILE OTHERS ARE DIRECT. THE DEGREE OF INTIMACY IN THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE ORGANISM INHABITING A PARTICULAR HABITAT VARIES GREATLY. THESE ASSOCIATES MAY BE EITHER BENEFICIAL OR HARMFUL TO BOTH THE PARTNERS OR BENEFICIAL TO ONE PARTNER AND HARMFUL TO THE OTHER. IF THE RELATIONSHIP IS BENEFICIAL TO ONE OR BOTH PARTNERS, IT IS CALLED POSITIVE INTERACTION OR COOPERATION. THE INTERRELATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HARMFUL TO ONE OR MORE OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE CALLED NEGATIVE INTERACTION.