Animal Symbiosis

Flashcards focused on the key vocabulary terms related to animal symbiosis, including definitions and examples.

Symbiosis

A persistent association between two or more unrelated organisms, characterized by intimate interactions.

Mutualism

A type of symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit from the interaction, represented as + +.

Commensalism

A type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected, represented as + 0.

Parasitism

A type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another, represented as + -.

Endosymbiosis

A special kind of obligate mutualism where the symbiont is located inside the host organism.

Facultative Mutualism

A form of mutualism where organisms can survive independently but benefit from each other.

Obligate Mutualism

A form of mutualism where organisms rely on each other for survival and cannot live without one another.

Horizontal Transmission

The transfer of symbionts from the environment to an organism.

Vertical Transmission

The inheritance of symbionts from a parent organism to offspring.

Dinoflagellates

Photosynthetic algae that live inside corals, providing them with nutrients through photosynthesis.