If you have read my other blogs you would know what biodiversity really is and how each one of us is connected with each other.

What is symbiotic relationship- 

How are we all connected by symbiotic relationships -

There are 3 kinds of symbiotic relationships:

  1. Parasitism - In parasitism an organism (parasite) lives in or on another organism (host). This organism feeds on it without immediately killing it. 

  2. Commensalism - This is a relationship in which 1 species benefits and the other remains unaffected.

  3. Mutualism - This is a cooperative partnership between two organisms/species (both benefit). 

Example of Parasitism -
  • Lice in our hair - When we get lice in our hair it does not kill us but the lice depend on us for their food. 

Example of Commensalism - 
  • Barnacles on a whale - Since only the barnacles benefit from attaching to the whales the symbiotic relationship is commensalism.

Example of Mutualism - 
  • Ants and aphids - Some ant species herd aphids in order to have a constant supply of honeydew that the aphids produce. In exchange, the aphids are protected by the ants from other insect predators that come to hunt them.