Symbiotic Relationships

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Symbiosis Noun

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[sim-bee-oh-sis]

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Symbiosis

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A close and long-term interaction between two different biological species, which can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral for them.

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Example: This image shows a clownfish living among a sea anemone's tentacles, a classic example of symbiosis where both organisms benefit from their close relationship.

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Mutualism Noun

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[myoo-choo-uh-liz-um]

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Mutualism

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A symbiotic relationship between individuals of different species where both individuals derive a fitness benefit from the interaction.

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Example: This diagram shows mutualism between ants and aphids. The ants protect the aphids, and in return, the aphids provide the ants with a sugary food source.

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Commensalism Noun

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[kuh-men-suh-liz-um]

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Commensalism

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A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits from the association while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

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Example: The cattle egret benefits by eating insects stirred up by the grazing buffalo, while the buffalo is neither helped nor harmed by the bird's presence.

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Parasitism Noun

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[par-uh-si-tiz-um]

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Parasitism

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A symbiotic relationship where one organism, the parasite, lives on or in another organism, the host, causing it harm.

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Example: A tick (parasite) is shown attached to an animal's skin (host), feeding on its blood. The parasite benefits while the host is harmed.

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Predation Noun

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[pre-day-shun]

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Predation

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A biological interaction where one organism, the predator, hunts and kills another organism, its prey, for food.

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Example: A predator (the lion) hunts and attacks its prey (the zebra) for food, which is a symbiotic relationship called predation.

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Competition Noun

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[kom-pi-tish-un]

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Competition

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An interaction between organisms or species in which both are harmed by their shared use of a limited resource.

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Example: This image shows that competition is a struggle for resources, occurring either within a single species (intraspecific) or between different species (interspecific).

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Pathogen Noun

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[path-uh-jen]

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Pathogen

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A biological agent, such as a virus, bacterium, or fungus, that can produce a disease in its host.

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Example: This image shows a bacteriophage, a type of virus that is a pathogen, attaching to a bacterial cell to infect it.

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Interdependence Noun

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[in-ter-di-pen-dens]

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Interdependence

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The mutual reliance between two or more organisms, where each is dependent on the others for survival and well-being.

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Example: A bee gathers nectar from a flower for food, and in the process, it pollinates the flower, helping it reproduce. Both organisms benefit, showing interdependence.

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Ecological Relationship Noun

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[ee-kuh-loj-i-kuhl ri-ley-shuhn-ship]

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Ecological Relationship

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The interaction between organisms and their environment, including how they affect each other and their shared physical surroundings.

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Example: This image shows a bee on a flower, an example of mutualism. The bee gets nectar for food, and in return, it helps the flower reproduce.

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Ecosystem Noun

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[ee-koh-sis-tum]

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Ecosystem

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A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment, functioning together as a single, complex unit.

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Example: This diagram shows how different human organizations interact, using 'ecosystem' as a metaphor, not as a scientific term for living things and their environment.