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Species Interactions > Research Links
"Species Interactions" (Chapter 49) highlighted the major concepts considered in Unit 9, Ecology. Understanding these fundamental components of ecology will help you develop a more sophisticated approach to animal interactions of all types. Explore the following sites to learn about other examples of parasitism, predation, and mutualism through both current research in the field and popular science articles.
49.1 Parasitism
Parasites or Pollution?
Reports of deformation in amphibian development have led to many speculations on the environmental factors that may impact early embryogenesis. This Scientific American article takes a different approach, asking if parasitism may be at the root of the anomalous development. Follow the many links to additional information on amphibian development and parasitic organisms of frogs.
Keywords: amphibian deformation, parasitism, research
49.2 Predation
Predation in the Tarsier
Little is known about the predation and feeding behavior of the awkward looking primate, the western tarsier. This article outlines the research by Dr. M. T. Abdullah at University of Queensland in Australia, reporting on the predation of fruit bats by the tarsier. The article provides a great example of how biologists design studies to ask ecological questions about the relationship between predators and prey.
Keywords: predation, ecology, species interactions
Chimpanzee Predatory Behavior
Dr. Jane Goodall popularized research on chimpanzee predatory behavior. This article on chimpanzee predatory behavior describes the complex species interactions of one primate and its prey. The article also highlights the differences between observational and experimental ecological research
Keywords: predation, chimpanzees, species behavior, research
49.3 Herbivory
Herbivory and Reproductive Success
As with all physiology and biological behaviors, ecological interactions are subject to evolutionary pressures and must have evolved as a result of varying levels of adaptive fitness correlated to different behaviors. This article is an excellent multidisciplinary discussion of herbivory and the natural selection that may have led to its development.
Keywords: evolution, herbivory, species interaction
49.4 Competition
Conservation Biology and Understanding Competition
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published this abstract that outlines the complex interaction of both predation and competition and how it might be used to analyze approaches to conservation. The article provides a good bridge between concepts in species interaction and concepts in conservation and community ecology.
Keywords: competition, predation, evolution, conservation
Competition among Pasture Species
Plants often provide novel systems in which to study questions on species interaction. This article discusses how prairie plants compete for limited resources above and below the ground.
Keywords: competition, research, plant ecology
49.5 Mutualism
Endosymbiosis
Understanding the molecular basis of mutualism among species is an enormous undertaking, as isolating the distinct features of mutualistic traits and relating them to the proteins and genes of the organism is very difficult. Peter Hraber's dissertation presents new methods to approach the topic of mutualism at the molecular level.
Keywords: mutualism, molecular biology, research, species interaction
Mutualism and Commensalism
This site describes the differences between the mutualistic and commensal relationships. Follow the links to several articles describing examples of such relationships, and also follow the "Ecology" link on the left side of the page for study material on other types of ecological relationships.
Keywords: mutualism, commensalism, species interactions
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