Symbiotic Relationships
Commensalism in the Arctic Tundra:
The Arctic Fox and the Polar Bear: The arctic fox is a scavenger. In order to survive (along with the other means by which arctic foxes gather food), they will follow the polar bear. When the polar bear is finished eating an organism, the arctic fox will come up and eat what is remaining of the deceased organism. The nature of this relationship is one in which one organism benefits (the arctic fox) and the other organism is unaffected (the polar bear). This symbiotic relationship is known as commensalism. (+ 0)
Parasitism in the Arctic Tundra:
The Liver Tapeworm Cyst and the Moose/Wolf/Caribou: The Liver Tapeworm Cyst is a parasite that resides in the liver of one of these three animals in the arctic tundra- the moose, the wolf, or the caribou. Whenever the host organism eats, the tapeworm will feed off of the content instead of the host. The host organism will continue to eat, but won't be gaining any of the nutrients or energy from the food. This can lead to starvation and even death. The nature of this relationship is one in which the parasite benefits and the host organism is harmed. This symbiotic relationship is known as parasitism. (+ -)
Mutualism in the Arctic Tundra:
The Lichen: The relationship of the algae and fungi to form a plant known as the lichen is very interesting. The algae cell will live inside of the fungus, providing the fungus with oxygen and sugars that are necessary for its survival. The fungus in turn acts as a form of protection for the algae cell, with the added positive of providing water and salts it has gathered to the algae. The nature of this relationship is what is known as mutualism, where both organisms interacting are benefiting. Without each other, neither the algae or the fungus would survive, and thus the lichen was created. (+ +)
The Arctic Fox and the Polar Bear: The arctic fox is a scavenger. In order to survive (along with the other means by which arctic foxes gather food), they will follow the polar bear. When the polar bear is finished eating an organism, the arctic fox will come up and eat what is remaining of the deceased organism. The nature of this relationship is one in which one organism benefits (the arctic fox) and the other organism is unaffected (the polar bear). This symbiotic relationship is known as commensalism. (+ 0)
Parasitism in the Arctic Tundra:
The Liver Tapeworm Cyst and the Moose/Wolf/Caribou: The Liver Tapeworm Cyst is a parasite that resides in the liver of one of these three animals in the arctic tundra- the moose, the wolf, or the caribou. Whenever the host organism eats, the tapeworm will feed off of the content instead of the host. The host organism will continue to eat, but won't be gaining any of the nutrients or energy from the food. This can lead to starvation and even death. The nature of this relationship is one in which the parasite benefits and the host organism is harmed. This symbiotic relationship is known as parasitism. (+ -)
Mutualism in the Arctic Tundra:
The Lichen: The relationship of the algae and fungi to form a plant known as the lichen is very interesting. The algae cell will live inside of the fungus, providing the fungus with oxygen and sugars that are necessary for its survival. The fungus in turn acts as a form of protection for the algae cell, with the added positive of providing water and salts it has gathered to the algae. The nature of this relationship is what is known as mutualism, where both organisms interacting are benefiting. Without each other, neither the algae or the fungus would survive, and thus the lichen was created. (+ +)