Symbiosis - Definition

Introduction

• Symbiosis is a biological term that literally means "living together."
• It describes the close and often intimate relationships that develop between members of two different species.

Co-evolution

• Symbiotic relationships involve co-evolution, which means that these relationships have developed and evolved over many years.
• Co-evolution leads to a dependency between the species involved, where they become closely intertwined.

Benefits in Symbiotic Relationships

• Symbiotic relationships typically benefit at least one of the individuals involved.
• These benefits can include access to resources, protection, or other advantages that enhance survival or reproduction.

Categories of Symbiosis

• There are two main categories of symbiotic relationships:
  1. Parasitism: In parasitism, one species, known as the parasite, benefits from the relationship at the expense of the other species, known as the host.
  2. Mutualism: In mutualism, both species benefit from the relationship, and it is a cooperative interaction where each species gains advantages.

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Symbiosis - Definition

Summary

• Symbiosis is a term that describes the close and often long-term relationships between members of two different species.
• These relationships involve co-evolution and typically offer benefits to at least one of the species.
• There are two primary categories of symbiosis: parasitism, where one benefits at the expense of the other, and mutualism, where both species benefit from the relationship.