Ecology

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Ecology refers to the study of the environment and how animals and plant interact with each other and their surroundings. Inter- specific competition among species is common, each and every organism must compete with other organisms for the same resources in an ecosystem. An ecosystem is a certain geographical portion where both animals and plants interactively exist. Intra specific competition on the other hand deals with competition between organisms of the same species.

Inter specific competition is competition between members of two or more species living in a certain community (Henry, 117). Inter specific competition is an important limiting factor to the large population size of various species. Lions and hyenas are two animals that originate from the canine and feline species respectively. Lions are bigger, faster and powerful than hyenas which give them a competitive advantage. Hyenas on the other hand are smaller, slow and very fearful creatures. The main source of competition between lions and hyenas involves food and territorial dominance. Both species are carnivores but the lion has a greater competitive advantage over the lion, through its power the lion is also able to claim dominance over the territory.

Intra specific competition involves competition between organisms of the same species; it engages competition for dominance and food (Henry, 116). Male lions fight to claim dominance of the pride and to mate with females, the animal defeated is cast out of the pride and is forced to look for its own. The same scenario reveals itself in the hyena family; males compete for females and also dominance of the pack. In intra specific competition the strongest member of the group remains in the group while the weak are cast out from the group.

Mutualism is defined as the condition in which organisms exist interdependently with each organism benefiting from the other with no harm involved (Henry, 223). Each animal species is believed to have its own unique niche that helps in survival in the environment. Across the savannah both lions and hyenas exist as carnivores, they both feed on flesh of other animals. However, lions are skilful hunters and between the two species they do the hunting and killing. After the lion has fed on the animal, it leaves the carcass to the hyena which is a scavenger; in this case the hyena benefits from the lion. Mutualism does not exist between lions and hyenas since only one species benefits from the other but not both.

Commensalism on the other hand is described as the state in which two animals of different species existing in the same community do not harm one another but only one benefits from the other (Henry, 216). The lion and the hyena are perfect examples of commensalism. The lions hunt for prey and eat what they can; hyenas on the other hand eat what is left after lions are through eating. In this case the hyena benefits from the lion since it gets food from the lion and no harm is done to either of the two species.

Organisms existing in the environment need one another to exist and to create a form of balance, through ecological prediction researchers are able to prove that the environment requires balance so as to allow comfortable existence among organisms. This control both inter- specific competition and intra specific competition among and between organisms in a certain environment. The symbiotic relationship is also essential as it allows organisms to coexist in the environment.

References

Henry, S. Mark. Symbiosis,. New York: Academic Press, 1967. Print.