Symbiosis and Marine Life

Flashcards about Symbiosis

Symbiosis

A close and long-term biological interaction between two different organisms.

Commensalism

An association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.

Mutualism

Symbiosis that is beneficial to both organisms involved.

Parasitism

Close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm.

Endosymbionts

Microbes living inside the host cells

Episymbionts

Microbes living inside the animal body on the surface of the internal ducts or body cavities

Ectosymbionts

Microbes on the external surface of many animals or algae

Horizontal transmission

Acquiring bacteria from the environment.

Vertical transmission

Transfer of symbiotic bacteria from parent to offspring.

Trophosome

Organisms containing symbiotic bacteria that generate food for the tubeworm through chemosynthesis.

Coral bleaching

Losing zooxanthellae due to high environmental stress, leading to coral weakening.

Symbiodinium

Dinoflagellates commonly found as zooxanthellae in coral reefs.

Zooxanthellae

Golden-brown endosymbionts of many marine invertebrates and protists, often dinoflagellates.

Adaptive Bleaching Hypothesis

The hypothesis that coral bleaching could be a strategy by the coral to exchange the type of zooxanthellae that it contains, perhaps to get a ‘new’ type that is better adapted to high temperatures

Sponge microbiome

The community of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that live in or on a sponge

Bioluminescence

Is the emission of blue or green light from oxygen-utilizing reactions via the luciferase enzymes