Harmony in Nature: Symbiosis
Symbiosis is a biological term that refers to a close relationship between two different species. These relationships can be mutually beneficial, one-sided , or neutral. Symbiotic relationships are important in ecology and have evolved as a result of natural selection.
These relationships are used for cleanliness, transportation, and defence. There are three main types of symbiotic relationships:
Mutualism: In these relationships, both species involved benefit from the interaction.
Parasitism: In parasitic relationships, one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of the other organism (the host).
Commensalism: Commensal relationships involve one organism benefiting from the relationship while the other is neither significantly helped nor harmed.
Symbiotic relationships can be found throughout the natural world and play a crucial role in shaping ecosystems and the evolution of species.
In our article, we are going to fully focus on Mutualism symbiosis, where both species involved benefit from the relationship.
- FIG TREE AND FIG WASPS
The relationship between fig trees and fig wasps is a classic example of mutualism. This interaction is sometimes referred to as “obligate mutualism” because both the fig tree and the fig wasp are entirely dependent on each other for their survival and reproduction.
Fig trees produce small, unique fruits called figs, which serve as their reproductive structures. These figs contain numerous tiny flowers within them. However, these flowers are not easily accessible to typical pollinators like bees or butterflies. They have evolved in such a way that they depend on a specialized pollinator, the fig wasp, for successful pollination.
Female fig wasps lay their eggs inside the female flowers. During this process, they also carry pollen from a fig they visited previously, thus pollinating the fig. Once the eggs are laid, the female wasp dies inside the fig.
The fig wasp’s role is crucial for the fig tree’s reproduction. The eggs hatch into larvae, and male and female wasps develop. The male wasps mate with the females inside the fig, and the females collect pollen to carry with them when they exit. The females then escape from the fig, carrying pollen and fertilizing the female flowers in the process. This leads to seed development within the fig, which ultimately ripens into a fruit.
After completing their role in pollination, the female wasps exit the fig, while the males remain inside and die. The female wasps then search for another fig tree to lay their eggs in, repeating the cycle. The entire process is tightly synchronized with the development of the fig tree and the figs, ensuring the fig tree’s reproduction.
This mutualistic relationship is essential for both the fig tree and the fig wasp. Without the fig wasp, fig trees would have difficulty reproducing, and without fig trees, fig wasps would have nowhere to lay their eggs and complete their life cycle.
2. HUMANS AND HONEYGUIDE BIRDS
Indigenous people and honey hunters in some African and Asian regions have learned to recognize and respond to the signals of honeyguide birds. They follow the bird as it leads them to the beehive, often with the bird flying from tree to tree and making specific calls to guide the way and a new study shows that the birds listen for certain human calls to figure out who wants to play follow-the-leader.
Honeyguide birds have a keen ability to locate beehives, which are often hidden from human sight. They can identify and locate hives in the wild, whether they are in tree hollows or other concealed locations. The honeyguide communicates its discovery to humans, often through a series of distinctive calls and fluttering movements. These signals serve as an invitation for humans to follow them. If a human hears the honeyguide’s call and decides to follow, the bird leads them to the beehive. Once at the beehive, the humans use their tools to extract honey, often leaving behind beeswax for the honeyguide to feed on.
After the humans have harvested the honey, there are usually remnants left behind, such as beeswax and larvae. The honeyguide, having contributed to the success of the honey extraction, feeds on these leftovers.
The humans benefit from the honey that they harvest from the beehive, which is a valuable source of food and a traditional delicacy in many cultures. The honey also provides essential nutrients and energy. Finding beehives in the deciduous forests and savannah of Africa is time-consuming. The honeyguide bird, in turn, benefits from the wax and larvae left behind by the humans after they harvest the honey. The honeyguide is unable to access these parts of the hive on its own but can do so once the humans have opened the hive.
3. WHALES AND BARNACLES
Barnacles and whales have a unique and interesting relationship known as commensalism, a type of symbiosis. Commensalism is a biological interaction where one organism benefits, and the other is neither harmed nor helped. Barnacles are a type of small, crustacean-like marine organism that attaches itself to various substrates in the ocean, including the skin of whales. When barnacle larvae settle on a whale’s skin, they begin to grow and develop into adult barnacles. They use their feathery appendages to filter small particles from the surrounding water, such as plankton and other small organisms, for their nutrition.
The commensalism aspect of this relationship comes into play because barnacles benefit from the constant movement of the whale through the water. As the whale swims, it creates a flow of water over its skin, which carries food particles to the barnacles. This motion allows the barnacles to have a continuous source of food without actively searching for it. This effect is generally considered to be minimal and not harmful to the whale’s overall health.
For the whale, the relationship is generally considered neutral or slightly negative. While the barnacles do not directly harm the whale, their presence may create some drag, potentially affecting the whale’s swimming efficiency and increasing energy expenditure. However, the impact is usually minimal, and whales are known to host a variety of organisms, including barnacles, without significant negative consequences. On other hand, it is said that in return, the whales get their skin cleaned from algae and other parasite.
Let us know what your thoughts are about the Whale and Barnacles relationship in the comment section below.
