Can a Community Contain Two Populations of the Same Species?

Introduction

Ecosystem is composed of all living things in a particular area to interact with all abiotic factors in the atmosphere. Cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, individual organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems are the different levels of biological organisation. An individual species may interact with another species in several ways, which facilitates the working and maintenance of the ecosystem. Species is a combination of populations that are genetically different from one another and the morphology, behaviour, physiology, and life histories are the common genetic difference among several populations. The life history of an organism is the series of events that are associated with survival and reproduction from birth to death.

Community Definition and Concept

Concept

• The population is composed of a group of living organisms. They have particular characteristics like age, birth, mortality, growth dynamics, and more. However, a biotic community is developed during the sharing process of the same habitat and cultures by several populations.

• For example, plants, animals, and microorganisms have a common habitat and interact with themselves. The formation of a biotic community in all habitats is based on the prevalence of environmental conditions and the habitat of the species population.

• The feeding relationship is exhibited by the organisms of the community among themselves. They interact while sharing a common shelter and it can be at a behavioural and reproductive level. There are gradual boundaries between the two biotic boundaries. Eco-tone is a junction or transitional zone between two or more different communities in an area.

Types of Interactions

Community interaction is categorised into three important types that are −

Predation

• It is the process by which an animal (the predator) kills and consumes an animal of another species (the prey).

• This type of interaction is helpful for the predator because it provides energy that facilitates the long life of the individual. However, predation is harmful to the prey which is consumed by predators.

• It does not permit some species to increase in number in the ecosystems, therefore, it keeps the population under control.

• Killer whales are the best example of predators because they are known to prey on most marine mammals.

Competition

• It is a relationship between two or more species that endeavour for the same resources due to short supply or availability.

• Therefore, species must compete with one another to live because of the scarcity of resources such as food, water, light, and shelter and it adversely affects both species.

• The stronger organisms obtain the resources and the weaker organisms die or may adapt to the situation when the two organisms compete.

Types of competition	Example
Intraspecific competition happens between members of the same species due to the shortage of resources.	The chemical substances produced by one plant are dangerous and act against another plant.
Interspecific competition occurs between members of different species.	The competition between the predators of various species for the same prey.

Symbiosis

• It describes the close relationship between two or more species that survive together.

• It gives benefits to at least one competing species and the relationship of other species may be positive or negative.

Types of symbiotic interactions	Example
Mutualism is the interaction of two species that gives benefits to both.	Leaf cutter ants and fungi share a mutualistic interaction.
Commensalism is the interaction of One will be benefited and the other be neither benefited nor harmed.	Bacterial species survive in the human body and cause disease.
Parasitism is the interaction of two species that results in benefits to one (the parasite) and harm to another (the host).	Ticks benefit by latching on to organisms to suck the blood and cause uneasiness to the host.

Structure of Community

The community contains some species population in a small space or large species population in a large area. The visual observation of a community in a qualitative approach is easier than quantitative population analysis. It is usually categorised based on habitat features such as water availability or exposure.

For example, plant communities are classified into hydrophytic, xerophytic, and mesophytic depending on the availability of water.

Community Dynamics

A community is a dynamic system that continuously interacts with equally dynamic other systems such as the environment. There are gradual and hidden community charges at any time, however, it is easily identifiable when it is observed at regular time intervals. Plant communities have seasonal changes that is specifically because of temperature variation.

How Disturbances Affect Communities?

A community may change their place from one area to another as a movement or dispersal. Animals get killed in floods during a tropical storm and the survived move to other places. Therefore, several natural disasters and disturbances such as forest fires, landslides, and storms affect communities.

Interaction between Community and Population

A population is a group of individuals that exist in the same species that are morphologically and physiologically similar surviving in a specific geographical area at a particular period. A community is an association of two or more populations that occupy the same geographical area. They are morphologically and physiologically different.

Conclusion

A social group of any size where people interact with one another at a specific time and gather to share cultures and resources is known as a community. A collection of individuals that exist in the same species that are morphologically and physiologically similar are called populations. The killing and consumption of an animal by another species are called predation. The interaction between two or more species that endeavour for the same resources is competition. Symbiosis is an interaction that gives benefits to at least one competing species and the relationship of other species may be positive or negative.

FAQs

Q1. How does a community differ from an ecosystem?

Ans. The environmental factors and all living beings interacting in a specific area is known as the ecosystem. The relationship between only living organisms is known as community.

Q2. What are negative interactions?

Ans. Negative interactions of a biotic community includes parasitism.

Q3. Why is intraspecific competition more powerful than interspecific competition?

Ans. The same species of the population have similar resources and different species of the population may have slightly contrasting resources. Therefore, intraspecific competition is more powerful than interspecific competition.

Q4. What is ecotone?

Ans. Ecotone is an area that is a boundary or transition zone between two various biological communities. It may be wide or narrow and are a significant part of the diverse ecosystem.

Q5. What are examples of commensalism?

Ans. Epiphytes can obtain nutrients and sunlight by residing on the host plant.