Mutualism on Earth

Mutualism Among Organisms

• Mutualism is when two organisms of different species "work together" and both benefit from the relationship. (NECSI, 2014)

 One example of mutualism are Oxpecker birds and the Rhinoceros.  The oxpeckers land on the backs of rhinoceros and consume ticks and other parasites on the skin.  This is a mutualistic relationship because the oxpeckers get food while the rhinocerus receive pest control for their skin.  

Another interesting interaction these two species have is that when danger is present the Oxpeckers will fly upwards and screech to warn the Rhinocerus they inhabit.

                                                                                                                                                                  

 Another example of mutualism occurs between bees and flowers.  Bees fly from flower to flower to gather nectar which they use for food.  While doing so, the bees are unknowingly collecting the sticky pollen on their bodies and pollinating other flowers.

This is a mutualistic relationship because the bees obtain their food from the flowers and the flowers obtain a means of transport for their reproductive seeds.

                                                                                                                                                                   

One final example of a mutualistic relationship can be seen in the movie, "Finding Nemo". The clownfish has a layer of mucus on its skin that protects it from the stinging tentacles of the sea anemone. Living among the tentacles, the clownfish is safe from predators who cannot withstand the anemone’s sting. In return for its safe home, the clownfish is able to scare off the butterfly fish, which is known to eat sea anemone’s lacking clownfish (Jungwi, 2009).

• If one of these organisms were to be removed from the environment, the mutualistic relationship would no longer exist.  This would cause the complimentary organism in the relationship to adapt to this loss or suffer the same fate.  For example, without a clownfish living among the anemone, it will most likely fault victim to its natural predator.

Resources

Jungwi, M. (2009, May 20). Mutual symbiotic relationships in the ocean. Retrieved from https://suite.io/megan-jungwi/1sm129d

NECSI. (2014, September 07). Mutualistic relationships. Retrieved from  http://www.necsi.edu/projects/evolution/co-evolution/mutualistic/co-evolution_mutualistic.html

National Geographic. (n.d.). Ecological relationships: How do species interact with one another and shape marine ecosystems?. Retrieved from http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/activity/ecological-relationships/?ar_a=1