very good i really love these definition......let me add the signs to it...(1)commensalism ( +/0)..it means one organism gain while the other is neither gain nor loss,(2)mutualism (+/+)..it means the relationship benefit the two organisms,(3)parasitism (+/-)...it means one organism feed on excess of the other.(parasite) is the one that is gaining while the (host) is lossing and later lead to death of the host.

<h2>Symbiosis</h2>
<p>Symbiotic relationships, or <strong>symbioses</strong> (plural), are close interactions between individuals of different species over an extended <a data-lesson="summarizing-the-evolutionary-history-of-the-animal-kingdom" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="introducing-animal-diversity" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/introducing-animal-diversity/summarizing-the-evolutionary-history-of-the-animal-kingdom">period</a> of time which impact the abundance and distribution of the associating populations. Most scientists accept this definition, but some restrict the term to only those species that are mutualistic, where both individuals benefit from the interaction. In this discussion, the broader definition will be used.</p>
<h2>Commensalism</h2>
<p>A <strong>commensal</strong> relationship occurs when one species benefits from the close, prolonged interaction, while the other neither benefits nor is harmed. Birds nesting in trees provide an example of a commensal relationship (see the figure below). The tree is not harmed by the presence of the nest among its branches. The nests are <a data-lesson="light" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="sensory-systems" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/sensory-systems/light">light</a> and produce little <a href="https://app.ulearngo.com/tutorials/introducing-genetics/dna">strain</a> on the structural integrity of the branch, and most of the leaves, which the tree uses to get energy by photosynthesis, are above the nest so they are unaffected. The bird, on the other hand, benefits greatly. If the bird had to nest in the open, its eggs and young would be vulnerable to predators. Another example of a commensal relationship is the clown fish and the sea anemone. The sea anemone is not harmed by the fish, and the fish benefits with protection from predators who would be stung upon nearing the sea anemone.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 544px"><img alt="Photo shows a yellow bird building a nest in a tree." height="540" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/1ef82a57-a423-4bc6-8eb4-ee9ce4b5b6c4" width="544"/><p class="wp-caption-text">The southern masked-weaver bird is starting to make a nest in a tree in Zambezi Valley, Zambia. This is an example of a commensal relationship, in which one species (the bird) benefits, while the other (the tree) neither benefits nor is harmed. (credit: “Hanay”/Wikimedia Commons)</p></div>
<h2>Mutualism</h2>
<p>A second type of symbiotic relationship is called <strong>mutualism</strong>, where two species benefit from their interaction. Some scientists believe that these are the only true examples of symbiosis. For example, termites have a mutualistic relationship with protozoa that live in the insect’s gut (see figure (a) below). The termite benefits from the ability of bacterial symbionts within the protozoa to digest cellulose. The termite itself cannot do this, and without the protozoa, it would not be able to obtain energy from its food (cellulose from the wood it chews and eats).</p>
<p>The protozoa and the bacterial symbionts benefit by having a protective environment and a constant supply of food from the wood chewing actions of the termite. Lichens have a mutualistic relationship between fungus and photosynthetic algae or bacteria (see figure (b) below). As these symbionts grow together, the <a data-lesson="connections-of-other-sugars-to-glucose-metabolism" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="cellular-respiration" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/cellular-respiration/connections-of-other-sugars-to-glucose-metabolism">glucose</a> produced by the algae provides nourishment for both organisms, whereas the physical structure of the lichen protects the algae from the <a data-lesson="the-building-blocks-of-life" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="chemical-foundation-of-life" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/chemical-foundation-of-life/the-building-blocks-of-life">elements</a> and makes certain nutrients in the atmosphere more available to the algae.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 544px"><img alt="Photo (a) shows yellow termites and photo." height="361" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/c2670ccf-9034-442b-8779-fedbba03879c" width="544"/><p class="wp-caption-text">(a) Termites form a mutualistic relationship with symbiotic protozoa in their guts, which allow both organisms to obtain energy from the cellulose the termite consumes. credit: modification of work by Scott Bauer, USDA) </p></div> <div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 544px"><img alt="(b) shows a tree covered with lichen." height="361" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/0739b09d-8f47-4799-9ad6-b80de8bc5092" width="544"/><p class="wp-caption-text">(b) Lichen is a fungus that has symbiotic photosynthetic algae living inside its cells. (credit: modification of work by Cory Zanker)</p></div>
<h2>Parasitism</h2>
<p>A <strong>parasite</strong> is an organism that lives in or on another living organism and derives nutrients from it. In this relationship, the parasite benefits, but the organism being fed upon, the <strong>host</strong> is harmed. The host is usually weakened by the parasite as it siphons <a data-lesson="resources" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="ecology-overview" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/ecology-overview/resources">resources</a> the host would normally use to maintain itself. The parasite, however, is unlikely to kill the host, especially not quickly, because this would allow no time for the organism to complete its reproductive cycle by spreading to another host.</p>
<p>The reproductive cycles of parasites are often very complex, sometimes requiring more than one host species. A tapeworm is a parasite that causes <a data-lesson="neurodegenerative-disorders" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="nervous-system" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/nervous-system/neurodegenerative-disorders">disease</a> in humans when contaminated, undercooked meat such as pork, fish, or beef is consumed (see the figure below). The tapeworm can live inside the intestine of the host for several years, benefiting from the food the host is bringing into its gut by eating, and may grow to be over 50 ft long by adding segments. The parasite moves from species to species in a cycle, making two hosts necessary to complete its life cycle. Another common parasite is <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em>, the protozoan cause of malaria, a significant disease in many parts of the world. Living in human liver and red <a data-lesson="blood-2" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="human-biology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/human-biology/blood-2">blood</a> cells, the organism reproduces asexually in the gut of blood-feeding mosquitoes to complete its life cycle. Thus malaria is spread from human to human by mosquitoes, one of many arthropod-borne infectious diseases.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 800px"><img alt="The life cycle of a tapeworm begins when eggs or tapeworm segments in the feces are ingested by pigs or humans. The embryos hatch, penetrate the intestinal wall, and circulate to the musculature in both pigs and humans. Humans may acquire a tapeworm infection by ingesting raw or undercooked meat. Infection may results in cysts in the musculature, or in tapeworms in the intestine. Tapeworms attach themselves to the intestine via a hook-like structure called the scolex. Tapeworm segments and eggs are excreted in the feces, completing the cycle." height="522" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/da32a034-af23-4b1e-a4b5-5ac2c77d83df" width="800"/><p class="wp-caption-text">This diagram shows the life cycle of a pork tapeworm (<em>Taenia solium</em>), a human worm parasite. (credit: modification of work by CDC)</p></div>

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Symbiosis and Symbiotic Relationships

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Symbiosis and Symbiotic Relationships

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