Skip to main content

Explain how organisms interact through symbiotic, commensal, and parasitic relationships.

Relationships between organisms are an important part of ecological systems. If a relationship is symbiotic, this means that two organisms live in close quarters and may interact with one another. There are several types of symbiotic relationships, including parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism. Parasitism is a specific kind of relationship where one organism lives off of another. Insects like fleas are parasites and engage in parasitic relationships where they drink the blood of a host organism.


...

Relationships between organisms are an important part of ecological systems. If a relationship is symbiotic, this means that two organisms live in close quarters and may interact with one another. There are several types of symbiotic relationships, including parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism. Parasitism is a specific kind of relationship where one organism lives off of another. Insects like fleas are parasites and engage in parasitic relationships where they drink the blood of a host organism.


Commensalism is kind of the opposite of parasitism-- two organisms may share a living space and one benefits while doing no harm to the other. For example, clown fish live inside of anemones. The anemone can cause stinging, but because the clown fish coats itself in a protective slime, it does not get stung. In this way, the clown fish is protected by the anemone, which may sting other organisms, and the anemone is not at all harmed.


Mutualism describes a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship between two organisms. Do you have any pets in your home? If so, you are a part of a mutualistic relationship! The pet receives food and shelter from you, and you receive the emotional comfort a pet can provide. In nature, plants and bugs often have mutualistic relationships. Many flowers, fruits, and vegetable plants rely on pollination by bees or flies in order to produce. These bees and flies get to enjoy the sweet nectar blossoms provide, and pollination helps produce a new generation of plants!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

Follow the relationship between Pi and Richard Parker. They endure over two hundred days of hardship together, but in the end Richard Parker leaves...

When Pi and Richard Parker are at the beginning of their journey, after Pi's family is killed in the shipwreck, Pi fears Richard Parker, but he is forced to find a way to co-exist with him in order to survive.  Over time the two develop a somewhat co-dependent relationship.  Richard Parker depends on Pi to feed him by catching fish, while Pi's will to live is bolstered by Richard Parker's presence.  Richard Parker recognizes that... When Pi and Richard Parker are at the beginning of their journey, after Pi's family is killed in the shipwreck, Pi fears Richard Parker, but he is forced to find a way to co-exist with him in order to survive.  Over time the two develop a somewhat co-dependent relationship.  Richard Parker depends on Pi to feed him by catching fish, while Pi's will to live is bolstered by Richard Parker's presence.  Richard Parker recognizes that he also needs Pi to survive.  At one point in the book, Pi's starvation and thirst reduce him to a st...
Post a Comment
Read more