Question

Question #75a8f

Answer 1

Symbiosis can roughly be defined as a close relationship between two species.

Explanation:

Technically, at least one of the species must be positively affected and it should not directly kill either organism. This rules out true predation and competition as forms of symbiosis.

The three main types of symbiosis are:

Mutualism, a relationship in which both organisms benefit.

Commensalism, a relationship in which one organism benefits, but the other is unaffected.

Parasitism, a form of predation (not true predation, in which an organism kills another organism). One organism benefits and the other is hurt.

1. Birds nesting in trees is commensalism.
2. Bees pollinating flowers is mutualism.
3. Pilot fish on whales is commensalism. (It might be mutualism; someone should check that.)
4. Bark beetles in trees is parasitism.
5. The various components of lichen demonstrate mutualism.
6. Gut flora in animals like humans demonstrate mutualism.
7. Spanish moss on trees is generally commensalism, but the tree can be hurt because the spanish moss is so heavy.
8. Tubeworms in stomachs demonstrate parasitism.
9. Cows eating grass (cutting off the top, allowing for new grass to grow) shows mutualism.
10. Animals eating fruits and transporting the seeds demonstrates mutualism.