The good the bad and the neutral |
Symbiosis: The interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both. |
There are three different types of symbiosis, Mutualism the good, Parasitism the bad, and Commensalism the nutral.
Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both organisms of different species receive the benefits of the relationships. An example of mutualism in the grasslands happens between the African buffalo and ox pecker. The ox pecker picks bugs off of the buffalo. The ox pecker is getting food and the buffalo is getting the bugs picked out of its fur.
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Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which one species of animal benefits from the other animal while the other species of animal is only harmed. One example of parasitism is the brown-headed cowbird and other birds in the region. The cowbird lays her eggs in other birds nests and makes them take care of the young when they hatch.
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Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship when one organism benefits but the other organism isn't affected in anyway. One example is when large nurse plants give protection to seedlings that are young. The young seedlings grow under the leaves, which offer protection from grazing, frost stress in the winter, and heat stress in the summer.
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