Anas Zoology

(Image Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peafowl ) First let us understand the terms peacock, peahen and peafowl. Peacock and Peahen are collectively known as peafowl. This means peafowl can be used to address either a male or a female.  Peacock is the male peafowl. Peahen is the female peafowl. There are 3 types of Peafowls in the world and they are: Indian Peafowl Green Peafowl  Congo Peafowl (Image Source:  https://www.animalspot.net/peafowl ) 1) Indian Peafowl: It is a peafowl species native to the Indian Subcontinent. Sexual dimorphism is seen. Peacocks are brightly colored while peahens have a dull color. Peacocks are iridescent bluish-green in color while peahens are dull brownish-green in color. The most remarkable difference between the two is the tail feathers. Peacocks have long tail feathers while tail feathers of peahens are short.  Indian Peacock (Image Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_peafowl#/media/File:Peacock,_East_Park,_...

  What is Mutualism ? It is a positive relationship between two individuals of species where both the species are benefited. Examples of Mutualism: Pollination by Animals: animals like bees. butterflies and moths derive their food from plants and brings about the pollination of plants. Ants feed on honeydew produced as a waste product by aphids and in return offer them protection. Oxpecker feeds on ticks and blood-sucking flies from the body of large grazing mammals like zebras, buffalos, rhinos etc. This helps the large mammals from getting infected by such parasites and in return oxpecker's gets an easy meal. Oxpecker and Buffalo (Image taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MfrsKJailo)

What is Commensalism ? Commensalism is a positive interaction and a symbiotic relationship between two species in which one species benefits and the other neither benefits nor is harmed. Three terms are used to describe different types of commensalism Inquilinism: When one species uses other species for shelter. Example: Woodpecker drilling a hole in cactus to use it as a nesting site. The cactus is unaffected while the woodpecker is benefited. Phoresy: Occurs when one organism uses a second organism for transportation. Example: The Bromeliad treefrog carry ostracods from one bromeliad plant to another. Metabiosis: Occurs when one organism uses something produced by the first, usually after its death. Example: Hermit crab using the shell of a dead gastropod for protection. Other examples of Commensalism: Vultures feeds on the leftovers of kills of carnivores and other dead animals. It is a type of commensalism since vultures benefits without affecting the dead animals. The fish remora ...

  What is Allelopathy ? Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon in which an organism releases chemicals which have positive or negative effects on other organism. The biochemicals produced by these organisms are known as allelochemicals. Examples: The River Tamarind contains toxic amino acid that inhibits other plants growth but not its own species growth. The leaf litter of some Eucalyptus species is allelopathic to certain microbes and plant species. The algae Chlorella vulgaris produces a toxin called chlorellin which is toxic to other algal species and bacteria.

  What is Neutralism? Neutralism is a type of symbiotic relationship in which two different species are not affected by association with one another. (Both the populations do not affect each other) The term Neutralism was introduce by Eugene Odum an American biologist Examples: 1) Grass Carp and Catla residing on the surface of a pond do not affect one another as their food habits are different. Grass Carp feeds on macro vegetation while Catla feeds on zooplanktons. Grass Carp Catla