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Symbiotic Relationships
Definition: A relationship between two kinds of organisms that lasts over a period of time is called symbiosis. The word symbiosis can be broken down into two parts to determine its meaning.
sym means together (like in the words sympathy and symphony) bio means life (like in the words biology and biome)
Types of Symbiosis
There are five types of symbiotic relationships.
Parasitism Mutualism Commensalism Neutralism Competition
Each relationship can be shown using + - or 0. The chart below shows these relationships.
Parasitism
Parasitism is the situation where one organism benefits while the other is harmed. A + / - relationship.
Commensalism
Commensalism is where one species benefits while the second species remains unaffected. A + / 0 relationship
Barnacles adhering to the skin of a whale
Mutualism
Mutualism is where both organisms benefit from the relationship. A + / + relationship.
The clownfish and sea anemone are an example of mutualism. Although these anemones stun and devour other species of fish, clownfish are not harmed. Clownfishes were thought to be commensal on the giant sea anemones, but there now is evidence that the aggressively territorial clownfishes chase away butterfly fishes, who eat anemone tentacles.
Try again
For a relationship to be competition, the end result on both sides of the relationship is a negative. This isnt the case in this relationship.
Return to the question.
Not quite
If the relationship was mutualistic, then both sides of the relationship would have a positive result from the relationship. While the antelope did have a positive from the birds (the warning) the birds didnt get a positive from the antelope.
Return to the question.
For Practice
A lichen is a combination of two organisms, an alga and a fungus. The fungus gets its food from the alga while the alga gets water from the fungus. This is an example of which relationship? a) Competition b) Mutualism c) Parasitism d) Commensalism
Good Job!
Youre right! This is an example of a mutualistic relationship. The alga gains water from the fungus and the fungus gains food from the alga. Both need each other to live and gain something from the other organism.
Go to the assignment
References
Abbott, D. (2000, May). Retrieved September 22, 2006, from Sybiosis Web site: http://www.msstarship.com/sciencenew/symbiosis.htm Examples of Commensalism. Retrieved September 22, 2006, Web site: http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/ExamplesOfCommensalism.ht m Meyer, J. R. (1998, January 3). Symbiotic Relationships. Retrieved September 22, 2006, Web site: http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent591k/symbiosis.html Mutualism. Retrieved September 22, 2006, Web site: http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~biol240/labs/lab_03symbiosis/pa ges/mutualism.html Symbiotic Relationships. Retrieved September 22, 2006, Web site: http://necsi.org/projects/evolution/coevolution/symbiosis/co-evolution_symbiosis.html