Hi, you're listening to cultivate
curiosity, a.
Podcast that inspires the next generation
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Cultivate curiosity is brought to you by
the Emerald Coast Science Center, a
nonprofit.
Interactive science museum and steam
educational facility in Fort Walton Beach,
Florida.
This podcast is perfect for anyone curious
about the world we live in, because.
You never know what we'll talk about
next.
Hello, my name is Harley and I
am an educator and the community affairs
coordinator here at the Emerald Coast
Science center.
And hi, my name is Jacie and
I'm the social media coordinator here at
the Science center. And today we're
delving into the fascinating realm of
symbiotic relationships, the partnerships
and interactions between different species
that play crucial roles in shaping
ecosystems. In these types of
relationships, two species can be
negatively, positively, or neutrally
impacted by one another. There are four
different types of symbiotic relationships
known as commensalism, mutualism,
parasitism, and competition. The first one
we're going to start.
Off with is mutualism. So mutualism is
a partnership where both species
benefit. An iconic example is the
relationship between flowering plants and
their pollinators. Bees, butterflies, and
hummingbirds, for instance, collect nectar
from flowers while inadvertently
transferring pollen, aiding in the plant's
reproduction. The pollinators get food and
the plants get their pollen to spread
for reproduction, a beautiful example of
mutual dependence. Now, besides the
classic example of pollination, another
mutualistic relationship is between
oxpeckers and large herbivores like rhinos
and buffaloes. Oxpeckers feed on ticks and
parasites infesting the skin of these
animals, providing a cleaning service in
exchange for a meal. It is a
mutualistic relationship that benefits
both parties involved. A mutualistic
relationship that you benefit from is
between humans and gut bacteria. The human
gut is a perfect environment for these
bacteria to grow. In return, the bacteria
protect humans against diseases and E.
Coli, which generates vitamins b, twelve
and k, which is potassium. Now more
on the marine side, if you have
ever watched finding nemo, you know that
the sea anenome and the clownfish are
perfect for each other. Out of the
vast array of over a thousand anemone
species inhabiting the ocean, a mere ten
species share their habitat with the 26
species of tropical clownfish. Among
these, only specific pairs of anenome and
clownfish demonstrate compatibility. These
pairs form an obligatory symbiotic
relationship, indicating a high level of
mutual dependence for survival. This
symbiosis is established through various
mechanisms, such as mutual protection
against predators, nutrient exchange, and
the clownfish's ability to tolerate the
stinging cells, which are the nemo to
cysts of the anenome. So very, very
cool. Also one of my favorite Disney
movies.
I know. So next we have commensalism.
A relationship where one species benefits
while the other is unaffected. An
excellent example is the relationship
between the cattle egret and large
herbivores like buffalo or cattle. These
birds perch on the backs of these
animals, feeding on insects stirred up. As
the herbivores move through the grass, the
egret gets a free meal and the
buffalo or cattle get rid of bothersome
pests. A win win situation. And just
a note, this example of commensalism is
different from the previously mentioned
example of mutualism because they are just
eating bugs that are annoying to their
species in the relationship. So the egret
is just eating annoying bugs, while in
the mutualism example, they are eating
parasites that are harmful to the other
species in the relationship.
Yes.
Another fascinating example of
commensalism is the relationship between
the remora fish and larger marine animals.
Like sharks. The ramora attaches itself to
the shark, gaining free transportation and
scavenging bits of food from the shark's
meals, while the shark is largely
unaffected by the hitchhiker.
So, next one we have. I guess
it's one of my favorites. Not really.
I just think it's super fascinating.
That's parasitism. So this is a
relationship where one species benefits at
the expense of the other. Parasitism takes
many forms, from endoparasites that live
within the host's body to ectoparasites
and parasitic castrators that live on its
surface. And micro predators like
mosquitoes that visit intermittently. I
know.
So bad in this area, too.
So bad. So parasitism is an extremely
successful mode of life. About 40% of
all animal species are parasites. Consider
this relationship between the tick and its
host. Like a deer or a dog.
We're most familiar with that one. The
tick feeds on the host's blood, gaining
sustenance. While the host may suffer
health issues. Parasites play a role in
regulating populations, but their impact
can be detrimental if not kept in
check. Another example of parasitism is
the relationship between the mistletoe
plant and its host tree. Mistletoe taps
into the host's vascular system,
extracting nutrients and water, often
weakening the host, especially in cases of
severe infestation. Who knew a classic
holiday plant was a parasite?
I didn't know that. When I was
looking this up, I was like, what?
Mistletoe, of all the things I know.
Finally, not wanting to scare too many
people away, but in Florida, there are
a few parasites. One in particular is
known as the rat lungworm. The University
of Florida researchers first mentioned it
back in 2017. At least that was
the first mention that I was aware
of. And the rat lungworm is a
parasitic nematode, so like a wormish,
that can cause meningitis in humans and
animals. And this has been determined in
five counties. Rats and snails in Alachua
County, Leon, St. John's, Orange and
Hillsborough counties have tested positive
for the parasite, according to a study
in the PLOS ONE by researchers in
the University of Florida College of
Veterinary Medicine. So this was also done
with the University of Florida's Museum of
Natural History. So lots of smart
researcher people determined this. But the
most interesting part of all of this
is that in 2022, UF vet med
researchers found that it had picked a
new host. And that is the Cuban
tree frog. The cool thing about this,
I guess, is that this is the
first time in the state of Florida
that a frog or toad or amphibian
has been identified as a host for
a parasite.
Aren't they invasive, too?
They are.
The Cuban tree frog. Yes, I was
about to say parasitism.
But parasitism in a beneficial way?
Yes. So they'll be hopefully declining in
population.
Exactly.
And then lastly, let's explore
competition, a relationship where both
species are negatively affected as they
vie for the same resources. An example
of competition in nature is the struggle
for food and territory among predators.
Take lions and hyenas, for instance. Both
species compete for prey, and their
interactions can be intense, which. This
reminds me of the lion king talking
about this example.
This is a Disney podcast episode.
This competition plays a crucial role in
shaping their behavior, hunting
strategies, and even social structures.
Now, let's consider plants competing for
sunlight, water, and nutrients. In a dense
forest, the towering trees create a canopy
shading the forest floor underneath.
Smaller plants must compete for limited
sunlight that filters through. This.
Competition drives adaptations, ensuring
the survival of the fittest. In the
quest for resources, an underwater example
of competition is seen between corals and
sponges. Sponges live in corals. But if
sponges compete against corals for food
and win, the corals die. If the
corals die, the sponges no longer have
a place to live. In this way,
both organisms lose.
Absolutely. So, now that we've done a
little overview of what each of those
relationships are, let's talk about their
ecological roles, because that's very
important to consider. So, for mutualism,
mutualistic interactions contribute to
ecosystem stability by enhancing resource
availability and promoting biodiversity.
For instance, mycorrhizal fungi form
mutualistic relationships with plants
aiding in nutrient uptake and overall
plant health, things we love.
And for commensalism, while less direct,
also plays a part in ecosystem dynamics.
The relationship between barnacles and
whales is a good example. Barnacles attach
themselves to whale skin, getting a mobile
substrate, and the whales are largely
unaffected. This relationship might not be
as obvious, but it highlights the
interconnectedness of species in maintaining
balance.
And parasitism, despite its negative
connotations, also has ecological
significance. Parasites help control the
population of their hosts, preventing
overpopulation that could strain available
resources. In this way, they contribute to
the balance of ecosystem. And just like
we mentioned before, if that host that
is already invasive to that specific
environment and it is helping that
overpopulation of it, then it's also
another ecological benefit.
And lastly, competition. Just like the
other types, competition is an integral
part of ecosystem dynamics. It influences
population sizes, distribution patterns,
and even the evolution of species over
time. While it may seem harsh, competition
is a driving force that contributes to
the resilience and adaptability of
ecosystems.
Well, there you have it, a glimpse
into the intricate world of commensalism,
mutualism, parasitism, and competition.
These symbiotic relationships are not just
fascinating to study, but they are
essential components of the delicate
balance that sustains our ecosystems.
Thank you so much for joining us.
We'll be back with a new episode
in three weeks. Yes in three weeks, January
has an extra week, and it's going
to come out on Valentine's Day, so
it will be all about the science
and history behind Valentine's Day. So we
will see you guys then. Bye. Thanks
for listening to this week's episode of
Cultivate Curiosity.
If you have any questions, feel free
to email us at socialmedia@ecscience.org.
Tune in for our next episode in
two weeks.