What is symbiosis? Explain its different kinds?
Symbiosis is, simply put, a relationship between two or more organisms. -Mutualism – the stereotype of symbiosis. In this relationship, both organisms benefit in some way. One example of this would be the invertebrates on a whale. The whale gets to be cleaned by these animals, and the invertebrates get free food! -Commensalism – in this relationship, one organism benefits, while the other derives no harm, but no benefits. An example of this would be snails using shells to provide shelter. -Parasitism – parasites, nasty little buggers. In this relationship, one organism benefits, while the other is harmed. One example of this would be tapeworms. In humans, these tapeworms attach to the intestines, absorbing all the B12 they can.
Symbiosis is a mutual working relationship. It is very common in nature. For instance, there are small fishes in the sea that attaches themselves to sharks. The shark provide the protection for the small fish, while the small fish eat parasites from the shark. It’s sorta like “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.
