Symbiosis

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What is symbiosis?

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Symbiosis is any close relationship between two different species in an ecosystem.

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What is commensalism?

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Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

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What is parasitism?

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Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one species benefits at the expense of the other.

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What is mutualism?

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Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.

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Give an example of commensalism.

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An example of commensalism is barnacles attaching to whales; barnacles benefit while whales are unaffected.

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Give an example of parasitism.

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An example of parasitism is mistletoe extracting nutrients from a spruce tree, harming the tree.

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Give an example of mutualism.

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An example of mutualism is bees pollinating flowers while obtaining nectar for food.

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What role do epiphytes play in commensalism?

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Epiphytes grow on trees to access sunlight without harming the tree.

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How does symbiosis affect ecosystems?

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Symbiosis contributes to biodiversity and the balance of ecosystems by facilitating interactions between species.

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What is the difference between mutualism and commensalism?

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In mutualism, both species benefit; in commensalism, one benefits and the other is unaffected.