Lec 14 Flashcards
Trophic Mutualisms
Organisms receive food (nutrients and energy) from their mutualistic partners
Habitat mutualisms
Organisms receive a suitable habitat (shelter) from their mutualistic partners
Service mutualisms
Organisms receive vital services (such as dispersal or defense) from their mutualistic partners
Mutualisms could show any of the three options
True
There are ________________________- mutualisms:
a) Symbiotic
b) Nonsymbiotic
c) Both symbiotic and nonsymbiotic
c) Both symbiotic and nonsymbiotic
Symbiotic Mutualism: Mycorrhizae
Fungi wrap around and extend within plant roots, plus spread out through the surrounding soil
Fungi provide inorganic nutrients from the soil to the plants
Plants provide photosynthates to the fungi
Example of TROPHIC mutualism (each provides nutrients to the other)
Ectomycorrhyzae (does not penetrate cells)
Endomycorryhizae (also doesn’t penetrate cells, goes between them and enters plasma membrane)
Symbiotic Mutualisms: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules
Bacteria fix nitrogen (which plants can’t do) and provide it to the plants
Plants provide photosynthates and shelter to the bacteria
Example of TROPHIC and HABITAT mutualism
Symbiotic Mutualisms: Microorganisms in gut
Bacteria and protozoans (Microorganisms) in animal gut:
Common in mammals and insects
Bacteria/protozoans break down cellulose and other indigestible substances for the animals (lignin, too)
Animals provide nutrients and shelter to the bacteria/protozoans
Example of TROPHIC and HABITAT mutualism
Symbiotic Mutualisms: Lichens
Unicellular green algae (photosynthetic) or cyanobacteria living within fungi
Fungi provide inorganic nutrients and shelter to the algae/bacteria
Example of TROPHIC and HABITAT mutualism
Symbiotic Mutualisms: Corals and Zooxanthellae
Zooxanthellae (dinoflagellates) live within the tissues of corals (cnidarians)
Zooxanthellae provide photosynthates to the corals, plus stimulate the production of reef material
Corals provides inorganic nutrients (wastes from the corals) and shelter to the zooxanthellae
Example of TROPHIC and HABITAT mutualism
Non-symbiotic Mutualisms: Pollination
Flowering plants provide food (nectar) to pollinating animals (insects, birds, bats)
Animals disperse the plant gametes (pollen) from one plant to another, resulting in fertilization
Example of TROPHIC and SERVICE mutualism
Non-symbiotic Mutualisms: Fruits
Flowering plants provide food to fruit-eating animals
Animals disperse the seeds of the plants with their feces
Example of TROPHIC and SERVICE mutualism
Non-symbiotic Mutualisms: Leaf cutter ant fungus gardens
Leaf cutter ants maintain “gardens” of fungi within their colonies
Ants cut and bring leaves to the fungi for decomposition, as well as “fertilize” the fungi with inorganic nutrients from their feces
Fungi break down the cellulose in leaves to a form that if edible for the ants
Example of TROPHIC and HABITAT mutualism
Non-symbiotic Mutualisms: Cleaner and client fish
Cleaner fish (smaller species) feeds on parasites of client fish (larger species), frequently within the mouth
Cleaner fish received food
Client fish receives defense from parasites
Example of TROPHIC and SERVICE mutualism
Non-symbiotic Mutualisms: Ants and Acacia Trees
Ants live in thorns (thorns are hollow) along the branches of acacia trees
Trees provide shelter to ants in their thorns
Trees also provide food to the ants in the form of energy-rich droplets called Baltian bodies at the tips of their leaflets
In return, ants defend the acacia tree
Ants fight off any animals that tru to feed on the tree, as well as any competing plants that come into contact with the tree
Example of TROPHIC, HABITAT, and SERVICE mutualism
Non-symbiotic because, even though ants live within the acacias, there is no physiological integration between them
