ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT

In a community, there exist different kinds of biological associations between organism of different species. Some of these biological associations are beneficial, some are neutral while others are harmful.

      TYPES OF ASSOCIATION

               Symbiosis

Symbiosis is a close association between organisms in which both of them benefit from each other. Symbiosis is a beneficial association and each member is called a symbiont.

Examples of symbiotic association are; 1.Algae and fungus in lichen.


A lichen is made up of two organisms which are a fungus and a green alga. They live in a close association and benefit from each other.




2. Bacteria in rumen of ruminant.
Bacteria and other protozoa in the rumen of ruminant animals like cattle, sheep and goat help the ruminant to digest cellulose to sugar while the ruminant in turn provides food and shelter for the bacteria.


                 Commensalism


Commensalism is an association between two organisms living together in which only one benefit from the association while the other is neither benefited nor harmed.

Examples of commensalism are;
a. Man and intestinal bacteria.
b. Remora fish and shark.

                   Parasitism


Parasitism is a close association between two organisms in which one, known as the parasite, lives in or on and feeds at the expense of the other organism which is known as the host. The parasite benefits from the association while the host  usually suffers harm or may die.

Examples of parasitism are;



a. Man and tapeworm


b. Mistletoe and flowering plants.

             
                    Predation



Predation is a type of association between two organisms in which the predator kills the other, called the prey and directly feeds on it.



Examples of predation are;
a. The hawk and chicks of domestic fowls.

b. The lion and goat.

                 Tolerance


Tolerance is the ability of living organism to withstand or tolerate little unfavorable changes in the environment which affect their survival.

                    Adaptation



Adaptation is defined as the ability of an organism to live successfully in a particular habitats as a result of its structure, appearance and behavior.

                  Pollution


Pollution is defined as the release of toxic or harmful substances into the environment by their natural forces or man and other animals to an extent that causes biological damage to man and his resources.

Types of pollution.
There are four main types of pollution that that affect humanity. Here are they:
a. Air pollution

b. Noise pollution

c. Land pollution

d. Water pollution.


See ecological concept