Definition

Have you ever heard the phrase 'I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine'? This idea of helping
someone to get some help in return is the essence of a symbiotic relationship.
Symbiosis describes close interactions between two or more different species. It is different from
regular interactions between species, because in a symbiotic relationship the two species in the
relationship live together. Many organisms are involved in symbiotic relationships because this
interaction provides benefits to both species.These relationships are essential to many organisms
and ecosystems, and they provide a balance that can only be achieved by working together.
However, there are types of symbiosis that are not beneficial, and may in fact harm one or both of
the species.
Symbiotic relationships include those associations in which one organism lives on another
(ectosymbiosis, such as mistletoe), or where one partner lives inside the other (endosymbiosis, such
as lactobacilli and other bacteria in humans or Symbiodinium in corals).[11]

Symbiotic relationships can be obligate or facultative. Obligate symbiosis is when two organisms
are in a symbiotic relationship because they can't survive without each other. Facultative symbiosis
is when the species live together by choice. There are four main types of symbiotic relationships:
mutualism, commensalism, parasitism and competition.
Symbiosis is also classified by physical attachment of the organisms; symbiosis in which the
organisms have bodily union is called conjunctive symbiosis, and symbiosis in which they are not in
union is called disjunctive symbiosis.

Physical interaction[edit]

Alder tree root nodule

Endosymbiosis is any symbiotic relationship in which one symbiont lives within the tissues of the
other, either within the cells or extracellularly.[12][14] Examples include
diverse microbiomes, rhizobia, nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in root
nodules on legume roots; actinomycete nitrogen-fixing bacteria called Frankia, which live
in alder tree root nodules; single-celled algae inside reef-buildingcorals; and bacterial endosymbionts
that provide essential nutrients to about 10%–15% of insects.

Ectosymbiosis, also referred to as exosymbiosis, is any symbiotic relationship in which the symbiont
lives on the body surface of the host, including the inner surface of the digestive tract or the ducts
of exocrine glands.[12][15] Examples of this include ectoparasites such
as lice, commensal ectosymbionts such as thebarnacles that attach themselves to the jaw of baleen
whales, and mutualist ectosymbionts such as cleaner fish.

Mutualism
Mutualism is any relationship between individuals of different species where both individuals
benefit.[16] In general, only lifelong interactions involving close physical and biochemical contact can
properly be considered symbiotic. Mutualistic relationships may be either obligate for both species,
obligate for one but facultative for the other, or facultative for both.
Because mutualism is beneficial to both species involved, there are a wide variety of mutualistic
interactions, and these are most common in nature.
For example, there may be a nutritional benefit to be gained from the symbiosis, such as withlichen.
Lichen is made up of both algae and fungi, and together they provide each other with food and
structure. This type of symbiosis is both obligate and mutualistic.
Pollination symbiosis is another example of an obligate, mutualistic symbiosis. Pollinators, such as
bees and birds, receive nectar from plants while transporting pollen that the plants need for
fertilization.
Cleaning symbiosis is a facultative mutualistic symbiosis. In this case, one organism cleans
parasites off another organism's body, which in turn provides a source of food. This can sometimes
lead to transport symbiosis, since the first organism provides not only food but transportation for the
second organism.
Defense symbiosis is another mutualistic symbiosis. A good example of this is the relationship
between clownfish and sea anemones. The anemones have stinging tentacles, but the clownfish are
not affected by them. Because of this, clownfish can find safety from predators in the anemone, and
in return they protect the anemone from its predators.

Commensalism[edit]
Commensalism describes a relationship between two living organisms where one benefits and the
other is not significantly harmed or helped. It is derived from the English word commensalused of
human social interaction. Commensal relationships may involve one organism using another for
transportation (phoresy) or for housing (inquilinism), or it may also involve one organism using
something another created, after its death (metabiosis). Examples of metabiosis are hermit
crabs using gastropodshells to protect their bodies and spiders building their webs on plants

Parasitism[edit]

A parasitic relationship is one in which one member of the association benefits while the other is
harmed.[31] This is also known as antagonistic or antipathetic symbiosis.[13] Parasitic symbioses take
many forms, from endoparasites that live within the host's body to ectoparasites that live on its
surface. In addition, parasites may be necrotrophic, which is to say they kill their host, or biotrophic,
meaning they rely on their host's surviving..Moreover, almost all free-living animals are host to one
or more parasite taxa. An example of a biotrophic relationship would be a tick feeding on the blood
of its host.

Amensalism[edit]
Amensalism is the type of relationship that exists where one species is inhibited or completely
obliterated and one is unaffected…There are two types of amensalism, competition and antibiosis.
Competition is where a larger or stronger organisms deprives a smaller or weaker one from a
resource. Antibiosis occurs when one organism is damaged or killed by another through a chemical
secretion. An example of competition is a sapling growing under the shadow of a mature tree. The
mature tree can begin to rob the sapling of necessary sunlight and, if the mature tree is very large, it
can take up rainwater and deplete soil nutrients. Throughout the process the mature tree is
unaffected….

LIST OF SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS

This is an incomplete list of notable mutualistic symbiotic relationships, in which different species
have a cooperative or mutually dependent relationship. This relationship can be endosymbiotic,
whereby an organism resides in another's body or cells.

Endosymbiotic relationships[edit]
 Symbiosis by Role of
Endosymbiont Role of host
luci endosymbiont

Euprymna Counter-illumination
Vibrio fischeri Reproduction
scolopes(Mollusca) via bioluminescence[1]

Photosynthesis (principally as
Legumes Rhizobia Fixed nitrogen the dicarboxylic acids malate
and succinate)

Photosynthesis (principally as
Actinorhizal plants Frankia bacteria Fixed nitrogen the dicarboxylic
acids malate andsuccinate)

Bioluminescent lure for

Anglerfish Bioluminescentbacteria Protection
prey capture

Sequestering of
Vascular plants mycorrhizae phosphate ions from soil, Photosynthates
disease protection

Immune suppression of
Parasitoid wasps Polydnavirus Propagation of the virus
parasite host

Disease prevention,
Poaceae Endophytic fungi Photosynthates
Drought tolerance[2]
Autotrophic endosymbioses[edit]

Role of
Host Endosymbiont Role of host
endosymbiont

Protection,
Coral (Cnidaria) Zooxanthellae Photosynthates inorganic
nutrients

Locomotion,
protection,
Foraminifera (protists) Variety of algae Photosynthates
inorganic
nutrients

Protection,
Variety of algae (Often
Sponges (Porifera) Photosynthates inorganic
green-algae)
nutrients

Inorganic
Hydra viridis (Cnidaria) Chlorella Photosynthates[3]
nutrients

Locomotion,
protection,
Elysia viridis (Mollusca) Codium fragile Photosynthates[4]
inorganic
nutrients

Convoluta Locomotion,
roscoffensis (Platyhelminthes, Tetraselmis convolutae protection, inorganic
traditionally) nutrients

Pompeii worm, Alvinella Thermophilic Insulation,

Locomotion,
pompejana (Annelida) chemoautotrophic bacteria chemosynthates
inorganic
 Role of
Host Endosymbiont Role of host
endosymbiont

nutrients

Carbon dioxide
Oxygen (from
Mole salamanders Oophila (from
photosynthesis)
respiration)

Riftia pachyptila (Annelida) Bacteria

Sulfur-oxidizing
Solemya velum (Mollusca)
chemoautotrophic bacteria[5]

Xylocopa
Locomotion of
Orphium frutescens violacea (Female Carpenter nutrients for larvae
Reproduction
Bee)

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP IN HUMANS

The world’s fauna and flora are constantly connected in order to ensure survival. However, there is
another type of symbiosis encountered in humans. People relate to everything that is different from their
species. Animals, plants, insects, bacteria, they all have at some point have a relationship with the
human. A symbiotic relationship between an individual and a domestic pet like a cat or dog for
example, is focused on mutualism. In humans, obvious symbiotic relationships examples arise from
interactions with animals. Cats and dogs are great examples, they give love and affection to the owner,
and they get shelter, food and proper care in return. Therefore, both species have something to gain from
the process.

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP AND EVOLUTION

it is increasingly recognized as an important selective force behind evolution,[11][35] with many species
having a long history of interdependent co-evolution.[36] In fact, the evolution of all eukaryotes (plants,
animals, fungi, and protists) is believed under the endosymbiotic theory to have resulted from a
symbiosis between various sorts of bacteria.[11][37][38] This theory is supported by certain organelles
dividing independently of the cell, and the observation that some organelles seem to have their own
nucleic acid.[39]

SYMBIOGENESIS ( SUB-HEADING UNDER SYMB. AND EVOLUTION)

The biologist Lynn Margulis, famous for her work on endosymbiosis, contends that symbiosis is a
major driving force behind evolution. She considers Darwin's notion of evolution, driven by
competition, to be incomplete and claims that evolution is strongly based on co-operation,interaction,
and mutual dependence among organisms. According to Margulis and Dorion Sagan, "Life did not
take over the globe by combat, but by networking."[41]

CO-EVOLUTION (SUB HEADING UNDER SYMB. AND EVOLUTION)

Symbiosis played a major role in the co-evolution of flowering plants and the animals
that pollinate them. Many plants that are pollinated by insects, bats, or birds have highly specialized
flowers modified to promote pollination by a specific pollinator that is also correspondingly adapted.
The first flowering plants in the fossil record had relatively simple flowers.
Adaptive speciation quickly gave rise to many diverse groups of plants, and, at the same time,
corresponding speciation occurred in certain insect groups. Some groups of plants developed nectar
and large sticky pollen, while insects evolved more specialized morphologies to access and collect
these rich food sources. In some taxa of plants and insects the relationship has become
dependent,[42] where the plant species can only be pollinated by one species of insect.[43]

coral
Obligate mutualism:plant root and symbiotic fungi.
Mutualism:honeybee and flower.