What is the characteristics feature of organisms exhibiting symbiosis?
Answers
Answer:
SYMBIOSIS
CONCEPT
Symbiosis is a biological relationship in which two species live in close proximity to each other and interact regularly in such a way as to benefit one or both of the organisms. When both partners benefit, this variety of symbiosis is known as mutualism. The name for a situation in which only one of the partners benefits is far more well known. Such an arrangement is known as parasitism, and a parasite is an organism that obtains nourishment or other life support from a host, usually without killing it. By their very nature, parasites are never beneficial, and sometimes they can be downright deadly. In addition to the extremes of mutualism and parasitism, there is a third variety of symbiosis, called commensalism. As with parasitism, in a relationship characterized by commensalism only one of the two organisms or species derives benefit, but in this case it manages to do so without causing harm to the host.
HOW IT WORKS
Varieties of Symbiosis
When two species—that is, at least two individuals representing two different species—live and interact closely in such a way that either or both species benefit, it is symbiosis. It is also possible for a symbiotic relationship to exist between two organisms of the same species. Organisms engaging in symbiotic relationships are called symbionts.
Shop on JJsHouse.com
Bridal, Bridesmaid & Formal Dresses Custom Made with All Color & Sizes.
JJsHouse.com | Sponsored▼
There are three basic types of symbiosis, differentiated as to how the benefits (and the detriments, if any) are distributed. These are commensalism, parasitism, and mutualism. In the first two varieties, only one of the two creatures benefits from the symbiotic relationship, and in both instances the creature who does not benefit—who provides a benefit to the other creature—is called the host. In commensalism the organism known as the commensal benefits from the host without the host's suffering any detriment. By contrast, in parasitism the parasite benefits at the expense of the host.
MUTUALISM: HUMAN AND DOG.
Report Advertisement
Mutualism is distinguished from the other two types of symbiosis, because in this variety both creatures benefit. Thus, there is no host, and theoretically the partners are equal, though in practice one usually holds dominance over the other. An example of this inequality is the relationship between humans and dogs. In this relationship, both human and dog clearly benefit: the dog by receiving food, shelter, and care and the human by receiving protection and loving companionship—the last two being benefits the dog also receives from the human. Additionally, some dogs perform specific tasks, such as fetching slippers, assisting blind or disabled persons, or tracking prey for hunting or crime-solving purposes.
For all this exchange of benefits, one of the two animals, the human, clearly holds the upper hand. There might be exceptions in a few unusual circumstances, such as dog lovers who are so obsessive that they would buy food for their dogs before feeding themselves. Such exceptions, however, are rare indeed, and it can be said that in almost all cases the human is dominant.