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Examples Of Symbiosis In Biology

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Symbiosis in biology is described as a relationship between two organisms in an environment and how they interact with each other. There are three forms of symbiosis that occur in the wild: mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism. There are also two forms of competition including interspecific and intraspecific. Mutualism in biology is a form a symbiosis in which both participants of the relationship benefit from one another. In the everglades, examples of two animals that perform in mutualism are the birds that feed off of small bacteria in the alligator’s mouth. The alligator is rid of the parasites within its mouth, and the bird gets a free meal. Another form of mutualism is cleaning stations in the coral reefs. Animals from across the ocean such as manta rays, sharks, turtles, sunfish, or even smaller creatures such as parrotfish arrive at these stations covered in small parasites. The parasites act as a food source for animals such as cleaner fish, who consume the small parasites from the host’s mouth, backside, and stomachs; just about anywhere that they are located. In these relationships the host is rid of otherwise harmful organisms and the cleaner fish get …show more content…
Mating, a limited resource is something that only applies to intraspecific competition. For example, the male Blue Birds of Paradise use their dance to attract female mates. The most charismatic and strong males are typically chosen by the females. It is a concept commonly known today as survival of the fittest. Elephant seal males also compete for territory by engaging in bloody, aggressive fights, until a winner is declared and the loser will submit to the higher male’s authority and leave its territory. This is similar to hippos, in the sense that the lead bulls of a territory will control over a large group of females and does not tolerate other males mating with the females within his

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