Animal Mutualism Flashcards
Define symbiosis.
Close and long-term interaction between species. This includes mutualism, commensalism and parasitism.
Define mutualism.
Interactions that are beneficial to both and injurious to neither.
Define commensalism.
Where one organism benefits from the other organism without affecting the other organism.
Define parasitism.
When one organism benefits but the other organism is harmed
Define facilitation.
When one organism benefits another in some way. This includes mutualism and commensalism.
What is an obligate organism?
A species dependent upon a symbiotic association.
What is a facultative organism?
A species that may benefit from a symbiotic relationship but is not dependent upon it.
Is mutualism purely benign?
Often there is a cost to one of the partners but the net effect is positive.
Define altruism.
The behaviour of an animal that benefits another at its own expense.
Define cheaters, in the context of mutualism.
Individuals that increase offspring production by overexploiting their mutualistic partners.
Why are cheaters in mutualism rare?
Evolution favours partnerships with the most cooperative partners as mutualism has low/no energetic costs.
What can obligate mutualism lead to?
Over-dependency.
