Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Mutualism, Parasitism, and Commensalism

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the relationship. When two organisms depend on each other and benefit from each other. Example is termites and intestinal flagellates

Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship in which one organism lives in or on another organism (the host) and consequently harms it. When one organism lives on another and harms it. Examples are ticks, lice, and mosquitoes



Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship in which one member of the association benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. When one organism benefits from the other and the second organism isn’t helped or harmed. Example is barnacles adhering to the skin of a whale or shell of a mollusk.

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