interspecies interaction

all forms of interaction between species. Long-term interactions include parasitism, in which one species lives on or in another at a cost to the host; mutualism, in which both species benefit from the interaction; and commensalism, in which the species coexist with neither cost nor benefit. Short-term interspecies interactions include predator–prey relationships and the mixed flocking of birds to feed and give alarm calls together.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

February 1st 2025

optimism

n. hopefulness: the attitude that good things will happen and that people’s wishes or aims will ultimately be fulfilled. Optimists are people who anticipate positive outcomes, whether serendipitously or through perseverance and effort, and who are confident of attaining desired goals. Most individuals lie somewhere on the spectrum between the two polar opposites of pure optimism and pure pessimism but tend to demonstrate sometimes strong, relatively stable or situational tendencies in one direction or the other. See also expectancy-value model. —optimistic adj.