Millions of species of living creatures live on Earth, and they all have some kind of connection between themselves. Some species of animals eat others and are themselves food for stronger representatives of the fauna. But there is another relationship - symbiosis, examples of which are found everywhere. Translated from Greek, this term means "live together." Surprisingly, some plants are prone to "cooperation" of this kind.
One type of symbiosis is mutualism, which means reciprocity. In this type of cohabitation, both participants are vital to each other.
Parasitism is also an example of coexistence, with it one representative harms another, surviving in this way.
Symbiosis, examples
Let's start with ourselves - people. It would seem that bacteria are the enemies of man, but without some of their species we cannot live and exist normally. Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli live in our intestines, which displace pathogens from outside in their numbers. And they eat due to the contents of the digestive tract, and this is how mutual cooperation is obtained.
There are animals that have been "friends" for a long time. So, in Africa, red-winged birds fly from the back to the back of large animals (buffaloes, giraffes, rhinos), where they find and eat ticks and other insects that attach to giants, thereby cleaning them from parasites and getting a lot of food for themselves.
In the marine world, there are also species that help each other out. For example, a goby fish, having seen a large enemy, is hiding in a hole that has been dug by a nutcracker. But arthropods are only glad of this, since the escape of fish serves as a signal that they also need to hide (the cancer itself does not see well). When a hippopotamus appears in water, it is cleared of algae and parasites by the “black labeau” fish, and not only its skin, but also its teeth and even gums.
Sinegal avdotka (bird) was able to establish friendship with a crocodile! She makes a nest and lays eggs near the place with alligator eggs. In case of danger, the bird calls with its cry a giant, and he immediately rushes to protect his masonry and avdotka's nest.
There is also a vegetable symbiosis, examples of which are mushrooms with trees, as well as insects with flowering plants. Boletus, boletus, receive nutrients from trees, giving away minerals and water in return. And birds, feeding on nectar of flowers, carry pollen on their beaks and thus help plants multiply.
Mutualism, examples
In the intestines of termites, flagellar protozoa live, which digest fiber into sugar. Termites do not have enzymes for this function, and without their partners they can die of hunger. And flagellates in the intestine live and multiply in favorable conditions.
Parasitism examples
But in nature there are organisms that live off of others, they cannot do otherwise. Eating and releasing toxins, the parasite gradually poisons the host's body. Some opportunists settle in someone for a while, and some live so permanently. Parasites gradually degrade, they are no longer able to independently digest food, see, hear, but they have hooks and suction cups. In such species, the function of reproduction is increased (millions of individuals), this is due to the high death of offspring.
Worms are a large class of parasites. They mainly live in the intestines of humans or animals. Also, these creatures are able to affect the liver, bladder, brain and muscles. Nutrients, vitamins and trace elements from food are absorbed by the worms, while the human body is "robbed", depleted and constantly suffers from toxins.
Parasites can live outside, such as fleas and ticks. They are also considered intermittent pests, that is, they are on the host for a short time, feeding on blood through the skin.
An amazing form of existence is symbiosis; you can see examples of it by carefully looking at the world around us. And you can start with yourself.