#ecological interactions

interspecific interactions -- a relationship between individuals of two or more species in a community

competition -- interaction -- -/- -- occurs when individuals of different species compete for a resource that limits the survival and reproduction of both individuals -- can occur between individuals of the same species

competitive exclusion -- concept -- when populations of two species compete for the same resources, one population will use the resources more efficiently -- this species will have a reproductive advantage -- this will eventually lead to the elimination of the other population

ecological niche -- the sum of a species’ use of the biotic and abiotic resources in its environment

resource partitioning -- the division of environmental resources by co-existing species -- the niche of each species differs by one or more significant factors from the niches of all co-existing species

exploitation -- ecological interaction -- +/- -- individuals of one species benefit by feeding on individuals of another species -- interactions include      -- herbivory      -- predation      -- parasitism

positive interactions -- ecological interaction -- can be +/+ or +/0 -- at least one species benefits -- neither species is harmed -- includes      -- mutualism      -- commensalism

mutualism -- ecological interaction -- +/+ -- both species benefit

commensalism -- ecological interaction -- +/0 -- benefits one individual -- doesn’t help or harm another individual

fundamental niche -- niche potentially occupied by a species

realized niche -- the portion of a fundamental niche a species actually occupies

.

Trametes versicolor in rosette. 

When it’s this colour and form it’s not difficult to misidentify, and even if you are unsure http://www.mushroomexpert.com/trametes_versicolor.html has you mostly covered. 

I was fairly happy to see this fungus, even if I have seen it millions of times in situ. This colorations seems fairly uncommon in Ohio, or rather transient relative to annual time in Ohio; so, I was fairly entertained by it. 

Why else are these organisms fascinating?

Polypores are strange little organisms, the majority of these organisms are bracting penetrators that are fairly saprobic, eat decaying organic matter or fresh dead organic material, in nature( only some rare cases where secondary interactions become considered parasitic; these interactions are what may cause the slipping phelem, the dead bark and inner formed dead cells adjacent to phellogen, to not be the only target along with dead heartwood. What I mean by “not the only target” is essentially weakening the phelem layer and allowing another organism, organisms associated with white rot in Basidiomycota, to take to the sapwood.The hyphae may take advantage of the white rot parasitic member and interact with nutrient transport.( To learn more of the basics of white rot check:http://www.forestpathology.org/dis_decay.html. ) In the long run though, we see more polypore interactions to be less detrimental than rots. Polypores would prefer this tree to manage life and stay relatively capable of producing phelem and heartwood so their life can be nice and easy; so, how do they do this? Polypore fungus, much like many other fungi, have cell wall made out of an extremely tough substance that can be used to add structure to the core where heartwood has been eaten away.  This substance is chitin,  which is a fibrous biopolymer substance consisting of polysaccharides linkages derived from glucose molecules as a primary source. Chitin is also considered one of, if not the most abundant aminopolysaccharide polymer abundant in our realm of natural interactions. Anyway, besides potentially strengthening a tree to prolong time before it’s demise, these fungi have two fungal hyphal mating types that when mating may become partners for life to form their fruiting bodies. Many coloured turkey tail fungi is one such fungi that does this; it has annual growth and if you don’t think that's rad, then I give up. 

fun read on Chitin and Chitosan that I used and got a bit of my knowledge from 

: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5094803/

also if your looking to get to know more stuff on definitions check out: http://www.brilliancecollege.com/uploads/government_jobs/1103101299751291Introduction%20to%20Fungi.pdf

or if you want a light read for relaxing check into Dr. Nick Money’s book, it’s damn cool, and it has illustrations! He has been a big part of my life in helping me understand gender, mycology, and botany and I am happy to have him as a professor in Miami University.