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Symbiosis is the interactions or relationships between two different organisms living closely, often to the advantage of both.
There are main 3 types of symbiosis:
Mutualism: both organisms benefit. Ex. Anemone provides clownfish with protection and clownfish provides the anemone nutrients from wastes and scare off potential predators.
Commensalism: an organism benefits and the other is unaffected. Ex. Tree frogs use plans as protection.
Parasitism: an organism is harmed and another benefits. Ex. Fleas or ticks live off the blood of a host animal.
A few others are:
Neutralism:
Competition:
Examples
Examples
1. Bone Worms & Whale Carcass
Bone worms/Zombie worms/Osedax are deep-sea worms that feed on the oils of the bones in whale carcasses. They were discovered in 2002.
Type of symbiosis: Commensalism. The bone worms feed on the whale carcass, while the whale itself is already dead.
2. Solar Powered Clams & Algae
Solar-powered clams/Giant clams consume algae by filtration. As a result, photosynthetic microorganisms live in the bodies of giant clams and corals. The microorganisms perform photosynthesis and supply the coral and clams food.
Type of symbiosis: Mutualism. The clams have algae in them that provide them nutrients and oxygen from photosynthesis, allowing the clams to grow in poor environments. In return, the clams offer the algae protection. Additionally, the waste products produced by the clams, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogenous compounds, serve as nutrients for the algae.
3. Bullhorn Acacia Ants & Acacia Trees
Type of symbiosis: Mutualism. Acacia trees lack chemical defenses and are protected by acacia ants that attack other insects that try to consume the tree. In return, the ants feed on the nectar secreted by the tree and live inside its hollow thorns, called the Beltian bodies.
4. Burrs & White-Tailed Deer
Some plants reproduce using burs - seed pods surrounded by hooks.
Type of symbiosis: Commensalism.
Deers move around through the forest, including these plants that they pick up burs on their fur and carry them long distances before shedding them to the ground. The deers are unharmed, but this allows the burrs to make new plants around.
The advantage of having seeds far from the parent plant is that it increases the chances of offspring's survival by not having siblings and parents.
5. Cattle egrets & Cattle
White birds known as cattle egrets of the heron family breed in colonies and form nests with sticks in shrubs near water.
Type of symbiosis: Mutualism. The birds live with herds of domesticated cows, where they feed on the ticks and other insects on the cows that can plague cattle and cause disease.
6. Alpheid Shrimp & Goby Fish
Alpheid shrimp are blind, but excellent diggers and build and clean small burrows in the ocean floor.
Type of symbiosis: Mutualistic. Goby fish hide in these sand tunnels for protection and warn the shrimp of incoming predators. More than 120 goby fish species have been found to do these types of relationships.
7. Trilliums & Ants
Type of symbiosis: Mutualism.
Trilliums produce seeds with fleshy tissues that attract ants. If the ants do not feed on outer tissues, they cannot germinate
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