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Symbiotic Relationships. Mrs. Ransom. What is symbiosis?.
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Symbiotic Relationships Mrs. Ransom
What is symbiosis? • Symbiosis is a close ecological relationship between the individuals of two (or more) different species. Sometimes a symbiotic relationship benefits both species, sometimes one species benefits at the other's expense, and in other cases neither species benefits.
People engage in symbiotic relationships that could be categorized as mutualistic, commensalistic and parasitic. A mutualistic relationship might be that of students and teachers, students learn from teachers and teachers earn their living. A commensalistic relationship might be venders at a ball park. The ball park brings in the crowd and the venders are able to sell things to them. The ball park is not helped or harmed by the venders.
Symbiotic Relationships • A parasitic relationship might be thieves. They get something that belongs to someone else and that person is harmed. This could be used as a foundation for a discussion with students
Parasitism • one species benefits, the other is harmed • Ex. Ticks attach themselves to deer and feed on their blood. This is harmful to the deer.
Mutualism • both species benefit • Flowers are a good example since many insects, birds and bats rely on their nectar to survive. While obtaining nectar, they pollinate flowers and promote reproduction.
Commensalism • one species benefits, the other is unaffected • Ex. Remora fish attach themselves to sharks, and travel with them, feeding on the shark's leftovers. The shark is neither harmed nor helped.
Examples of Symbiotic Relationships Human diseases are often the result of parasitic relationships. Bacteria, viruses, fungus and parasites invade the body and cause diseases. The common cold is caused by Rhinovirus which infect mucus cells lining the nose, throat and lungs. Strep throat is caused by the Streptococcus bacteria. There are other bacteria that live in the body that neither help nor harm us, and some bacteria that may be helpful to us. Fecal coliform bacteria are naturally present in the human digestive tract, and aid in the digestion of food.
