Symbiotic Relationship: Definition & Examples
Symbiotic relationships are a special type of interaction between species. Sometimes beneficial, sometimes harmful, these relationships are essential to many organisms and ecosystems, and they provide a balance that can only be achieved by working together.
Symbiosis
Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine’? This idea of helping someone to get some help in return is the essence of a symbiotic relationship.
Symbiosis describes close interactions between two or more different species. It is different from regular interactions between species, because in a symbiotic relationship, the two species in the relationship live together. Many organisms are involved in symbiotic relationships because this interaction provides benefits to both species. However, there are types of symbiosis that are not beneficial and may in fact harm one or both of the species.
Symbiotic relationships can be obligate or facultative. Obligate symbiosis is when two organisms are in a symbiotic relationship because they can’t survive without each other. Facultative symbiosis is when the species live together by choice. There are four main types of symbiotic relationships: mutualism, commensalism, parasitism and competition.
Mutualism
Mutualism occurs when both species benefit from the interaction. Because mutualism is beneficial to both species involved, there are a wide variety of mutualistic interactions, and these are most common in nature.
For example, there may be a nutritional benefit to be gained from the symbiosis, such as with lichen. Lichen is made up of both algae and fungi, and together they provide each other with food and structure. This type of symbiosis is both obligate and mutualistic.
Pollination symbiosis is another example of an obligate, mutualistic symbiosis. Pollinators, such as bees and birds, receive nectar from plants while transporting pollen that the plants need for fertilization.
Cleaning symbiosis is a facultative mutualistic symbiosis. In this case, one organism cleans parasites off another organism’s body, which in turn provides a source of food. This can sometimes lead to transport symbiosis, since the first organism provides not only food but transportation for the second organism.
Defense symbiosis is another mutualistic symbiosis. A good example of this is the relationship between clownfish and sea anemones. The anemones have stinging tentacles, but the clownfish are not affected by them. Because of this, clownfish can find safety from predators in the anemone, and in return they protect the anemone from its predators.
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