Mutualism is when two different species work together and both benefit. This mutualism causes both species to thrive and grow together with each other. One example is when humans give dogs food and shelter while the dog provides companionship and protection. We could live without dogs, but we choose to have them as pets because we love them and want to protect them. Other organisms think the same way. Mutualism occurs among plants too! Mycorrhizae, meaning "fungus-root," is a form of mutualism that happens in roughly 80 percent of plants. In mycorrhizae, a fungus in the soil attaches itself to a plant's roots with threads called hyphae. The hyphae bring essential nutrients to the plant while the plant provides the fungi with carbohydrates Say what?? Are you talking about "plant behavior" now?? Yes! Even among plant organisms, mutualism exists. This little bird is called the oxpecker. He travels with zebras and rhinoceros's. Oxpeckers land on rhinos or zebras and eat ticks and other parasites that live on their skin. The oxpeckers get food and the beasts get pest control. Also, when there is danger, the oxpeckers fly upward and scream a warning, which benefits both of them as well. Bees fly from flower to flower gathering nectar, which they make into food, benefiting the bees. When they land in a flower, the bees get some pollen on their hairy bodies, and when they land in the next flower, some of the pollen from the first one rubs off, pollinating* the plant. The bees get to eat and the flower get pollinated. Spider crabs live in shallow areas of the ocean floor, and greenish-brown algae lives on the crabs' backs, making the crabs blend in with their environment, and unnoticeable to predators. The crab is camouflaged and the algae has a nice place to live. A certain kind of bacteria lives in the intestines of humans and many other animals. The human cannot digest all of the food that it eats. The bacteria eat the food that the human cannot digest and partially digest it, allowing the human to finish the job. There are so many stories about mutualism. Can you think of other examples and share them? All of this is SO fascinating! I could talk about it all day!!
12 Comments
Sadie
4/18/2018 03:20:20 pm
I think I am first!!! Good job on the blog today!!!
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Errol
4/18/2018 03:28:32 pm
i am second! I like it when Mrs.Taylor gives me candy.
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Sadie
4/18/2018 03:37:55 pm
I think everyone likes it when Mrs. Taylor gives them candy!
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aidan
4/18/2018 03:45:52 pm
that spoodercrab looks like it could be a super Mario galaxy boss
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Elayna
4/18/2018 03:55:30 pm
I especially liked the dog picture on the blog today.
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Sammy
4/18/2018 05:49:02 pm
Errol I like getting candy too.
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MaryGrace/Fred
4/18/2018 06:24:06 pm
That dog is EXACTLY LIKE MY DOG!!! When ever I rub her, she tries to put her paws on me while I scratch her but most the times ends up hitting my face...
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David
4/19/2018 07:24:47 am
That is a HUGE Root System, And That crab did not succeed in camofloging with the moss.
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Sophia Groom
4/20/2018 07:35:28 am
Hi mrs.Taylor on my way to school right now 👍
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Sophia Groom
5/2/2018 07:58:36 am
Hi mrs.taylor
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Sophia Groom
5/10/2018 03:37:16 pm
Hello, I’m still at school!😢 because I went to double dosing
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |