SYMBIOSIS

Symbiosis is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different
biological organisms, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic. The organisms, each
termed a symbiont, may be of the same or of different species.

TYPES OF SYMBIOSIS

MUTUALISM

When people use the word symbiosis, they’re usually talking about a mutualistic symbiotic
relationship. Mutualism is a close, long-lasting relationship where both parties benefit.
Organisms can use other organisms for cleaning, protection or gathering food. In some
mutualistic relationships, the organisms can’t survive without each other.

COMMENSALISM

Commensalism is a one-sided relationship where one of the organisms benefits greatly from
the symbiosis. The other is not helped, but it is not harmed or damaged from the relationship
either. In some of these commensalism relationships, the organism that is reaping the benefit
will use the other for protection or transportation.

PARASITISM

In parasitism, one organism benefits from the relationship at the expense of the other. The
parasitic organism may live inside another organism's body (endoparasitism) or on its surface
(ectoparasitism). The host species often weakens and sometimes dies, but in most cases, the
parasite needs it to stay alive so it can keep feeding on it.

COMPETITION

Many species compete for the same resources in an ecosystem, which is called competition
symbiosis. It may seem like this type of relationship is the opposite of symbiosis, but
ecosystems depend on a balance of different species being present. If one species has an
abundance of resources and another doesn’t, both species could suffer and possibly die out.

PREDATION AND HERBIVORY

Predation is the process by which one organism feeds on another, typically one animal eating
another animal. Herbivory relationships involve an animal eating part or all of a plant.