What term describes the interaction where one species benefits and the other is killed?

The interaction where one species benefits and the other is killed is known as predation. In a predatory relationship, a predator consumes its prey, leading to the death of the prey while the predator gains energy, nutrition, and survival advantage from the act of eating. This relationship is fundamental in ecological systems, influencing population dynamics, community structure, and natural selection.

In contrast, commensalism describes a relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. Mutualism involves both species benefiting from the interaction, while parasitism occurs when one species benefits at the expense of another, typically leading to harm but not immediate death. Predation is distinct in that it involves the direct killing of the prey, making it a clear and specific form of species interaction.