Question

Differentiate between the following interspecific interactions in a population
Commensalism and amensalism.

Answer 1

Interspecific interactions can be of two types- beneficial or harmful. The species that are interacting can either be benefitted or unaffected or have a negative effect.

Complete solution: When some individuals within the species compete for the same resources in the ecosystem then, this type of interaction is referred to as interspecific interactions. There are different types of interspecific interactions such as commensalism and amensalism.
Some differences between commensalism and amensalism are as follows-

Commensalism	Amensalism
It is a positive type of interaction where one or two species are benefitted.	1. It is a negative type of interaction in which one or two species are harmed.
The species that is benefitted is known as commensal whereas the other remains unaffected.	2. The species that is harmed is known as amensal and the other remains unaffected.
Examples- Climbers use trees for support, and jackals follow lions in the search of food.	3. Examples- Tagetes secrete toxic chemicals that affect the nematodes in the soil and smoother crops do not allow weeds to grow nearby.

Additional information:
Diverse species in the ecological communities comprise several interactions. Many species interactions are usually asymmetric, where one species unilaterally affects the other species. Amensalism and commensalism are stabilizing interactions than symmetrical interactions such as mutualism and competition.

Note: Commensalism is a beneficial and long-term relationship that has no positive or negative effect on the other. Whereas in amensalism one organism is destroyed and others remain unaffected.