Ecotone

ECOTONE
• An ecotone is a zone of junction or a

transition area between two biomes
(diverse ecosystems).
• Ecotone is the zone where two
communities meet and
integrate.(Mangroves, grasslands)
• Sometimes the number of species and the
population density of some of the species
in the ecotone is much greater than either
community. This is called edge effect.
• The organisms which occur primarily or
most abundantly in this zone are known
as edge species
ECOCLINE
• A zone of physical transition between

two systems.
• Thermocline-Thermal gradient
• Pycnocline - variation in density induced
by salinity
LET US THINK...
What interaction is taking place
between the two given species?
Does the honey bee alone benefit

from this relationship?
Why do organisms compete?
Does competition happen only

between organisms belonging to the
same species?
BIOTIC INTERACTION
• It is the effect a pair of organisms

living together in a community have
on each other.
• Intra-specific - of the same species
• Inter-specific of different species
Mutualism Competition Predation
Parasitism Commensalism Ammensalism

MUTUALISM
• Mutualism is the name given to
associations between pairs of species
that bring mutual benefit.
• Types - Symbiotic and Non symbiotic
• Symbiotic Mutualism- Here individuals
interact physically and their relationship
is biologically essential for survival. Ex-
Lichen and Mychorizza
• Non symbiotic Mutualism- In this
interaction, the mutualists live
independent lives yet cannot survive
without each other. Ex- Pollination
• Symbiotic Mutualism
• MYCORRHIZA = FUNGI + ROOTS OF HIGHER PLANTS
• Mycorrhiza provides benifits such as, Increased absorption of nutrients and water
• Reduced need for irrigation
• LICHEN- Symbiotic Mutualism
• LICHEN - ALGAE + FUNGI
• Play a major role in soil formation
• Indicators of pollution
COMPETITION
• When two or more organisms in the
same community seek the same
resources (e.g., food, water, nesting
space, ground space), they compete.
• INTRASPECIFIC Competition (same
species)
• INTERSPECIFIC Competition (different
species)
GAUSE'S COMPETITIVE
EXCLUSION PRINCIPLE
• It states that two species which

states that two species competing for
the same resource cannot coexist
indefinitely and the competitively
inferior one will be eliminated
eventually.
RESOURCE PARTITIONING
• SPECIES FACING COMPETITION MIGHT

EVOLVE MECHANISMS THAT PROMOTE CO
EXISTENCE RATHER THAN EXCLUSION.
• ONE SUCH MECHANISM IS ‘RESOURCE
PARTITIONING’.
• IF TWO SPECIES COMPETE FOR THE SAME
RESOURCE, THEY COULD AVOID
COMPETITION BY CHOOSING, FOR
INSTANCE, DIFFERENT TIMES FOR
FEEDING OR DIFFERENT FORAGING
PATTERNS
PREDATION
• Play an important role in keeping prey
population in check
• Role in food chain
• Prey have developed defense mechanism
⚬ The Monarch butterfly is highly
distasteful to its predator (bird) becaus
of a special chemical present in its bod
⚬ Camouflage
⚬ Calotropis weed-The plant produces
highly poisonous cardiac glycosides, th
cattle or goat will not consume it.
PARASITISM
• Relationship between two species of plant
or animals in which one benefits at the
expense of the other.
• Parasites that feed on the external surface
of the host organism are called
Ectoparasites. Ex- lice on humans and tick
on dogs.
• Endoparasites are those that live inside
the host body at different sites (liver,
kidney, lungs, red blood cells, etc.)
• Parasites have started to co-evolve with
their hosts - Adaptations include,loss of
unnecessary sense organs, presence of
adhesive organs or suckers to cling on to the
host, loss of digestive system and high
reproductive capacity.
BROOD PARASITISM
When Parenting goes Cuckoo!
BROOD PARASITISM
• Brood parasites are animals that rely
on others to raise their young.
• The strategy appears among birds,
insects, and fish.
• The brood parasite manipulates a
host, either of the same or of another
species, to raise its young as if it were
its own.
• Ex- Common redstart and cuckoo,
Crow and cuckoo
EGG MIMICRY
EGG MIMICRY
• Here the parasitic bird's eggs closely
resemble the host bird's eggs to prevent t
chances of being rejected by the host bird
• The cuckoos use egg mimicry, that is, they
choose parents whose eggs are very simila
to theirs to avoid egg puncturing (damag
to egg shells)
• The eggs of the parasitic birds can have
thicker egg shells
• This enables the parasitic parents to spen
more time on other activities such as
foraging and producing further offspring.
Q. Brood parasites are animals that rely on
others to raise their young. In this context
which of the following avian species are
brood parasites?
1) Common cuckoos
2) Honey guides
3) Brown-headed cowbird
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 only
c. 3 only
d. All of the above
COMMENSALISM
• Commensalism is the interaction in
which one species benefits and the
other is neither harmed nor
benefited.
• E.g. cattle and egret, barnacles on
the back of a whale, sea anemone,
and the clown fish.
AMENSALISM
• Amensalism is the , association between
organisms of two different species in
which one is inhibited or destroyed and
the other is unaffected. Ex - large tree
shading small plants
• Antibiosis - In this biological interaction
between two organisms is detrimental to
at least one of them.
• A classic antibiosis example is a
penicillium. Penicillin secreted by bread
mould penicillium has a devastating
effect on bacteria. Thus, it has become a
potent medicine to combat bacterial
NEUTRALISM
• Neutralism describes the relationship
between two species that interact but do
not affect each other.
• Ex- In a tide pool there are many
organisms which don’t have any effect
on each other.
LET US THINK...
• Name important defence mechanisms in plants
against herbivory.
• What is the biotic interaction between an orchid
growing on the branch of a mango tree?
• What are epiphytes?
• Select the statement which explains best
parasitism.
(a) One organism is benefited.
(b) Both the organisms are benefited.
(c) One organism is benefited, other is not affected.
(d) One organism is benefited, other is affected.
Q. Consider the following pairs of species interaction.
Biotic Interaction Associated species

1. Ammensalism i) Clownfish and sea anemone
2. Commensalism ii) Suckerfish and Shark
3. Predation iii) Abingdon turtle and goat
How many of the above given pair is/are correctly matched?

a. One pair only
b. Two pairs only
c. Three pairs only
d. None of the above
ECOSYSTEM
ECOSYSTEM
• An ecosystem can be visualised as a
functional unit of nature, where living
organisms interact among themselves
and also with the surrounding physical
environment.
• Ecosystems are of two types-
• NATURAL & MAN-MADE
• Natural ecosystems and man-made
ecosystems can be further divided
Terrestrial and aquatic.
NATURAL ECOSYSTEM
MANMADE ECOSYSTEM

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ECOTONE

• An ecotone is a zone of junction or a

• A zone of physical transition between

Does the honey bee alone benefit

Does competition happen only

• It is the effect a pair of organisms

Parasitism Commensalism Ammensalism

• It states that two species which

• SPECIES FACING COMPETITION MIGHT

Biotic Interaction Associated species

How many of the above given pair is/are correctly matched?

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