Interspecific

Interspecific is an adjective used in biology to describe processes and relationships that occur between different species. In ecology, interspecific interactions are the links between species within a community and help shape patterns of abundance, distribution, and evolution.

Key categories include competition, predation and herbivory, parasitism and disease, mutualism, commensalism, and amensalism. Competition arises when species rely on the same limited resources, potentially driving niche differentiation or, under strong pressure, competitive exclusion. Predation and herbivory involve one species benefiting by consuming another, influencing the population dynamics and selective pressures of both. Parasitism and disease describe longer associations in which one species exploits another for resources, often with impacts on health and fitness. Mutualism and commensalism describe interactions where at least one party benefits; mutualism often enhances survival or reproduction for both species, as in pollination or mycorrhizal associations, while commensalism benefits one partner without affecting the other.

Interspecific hybridization refers to mating between different species that can produce offspring. Barriers to gene flow may be prezygotic (timing, location, mating signals) or postzygotic (hybrid inviability or sterility). When hybrids are viable but sterile, such as mules (horse-donkey) or ligers (lion-tiger), interspecific reproduction contributes to genetic exchange between lineages but typically does not result in long-term gene flow. In plants, hybridization can be more common and may lead to new species through polyploidy or introgression.

Ecologically, interspecific interactions drive coevolution, community structure, and biodiversity. They can promote resource partitioning, ecological niches, and complex food webs, while also posing challenges for species boundaries and conservation.