Mutually Beneficial Interactions

So far, you have analyzed

relationships that involve predators
and prey and populations that
compete with each other. Both kinds
of relationships harm an organism’s
chances of survival. But not all
relationships in ecosystems are
harmful. Some interactions among
organisms in an ecosystem are
helpful. How could one species help
other species survive?
Sometimes two species have
a relationship in which they help one
another survive, grow, or reproduce. A mutualism
is a relationship between two species in which both
species benefit. In a mutualism, the organisms are
called mutualists. The green sea turtle and the fish
pictured on this page are mutualists. Their
interaction benefits both species. The fish benefit
by getting nutrients when they eat algae and other
organisms that live on the sea turtle’s shell, or
carapace. The sea turtle benefits because the fish
“clean” the sea turtle as they eat. Having a clean
carapace helps the sea turtle stay healthy and
avoid disease and injury. Without mutualism, both
organisms would have a more difficult time
surviving. The relationship between the clownfish
and the sea anemone described at the beginning
of this lesson is another example of a mutualism.
Because mutualists depend on one another, changes in the population size of
one species in the relationship can affect the population size of the other. The
interaction helps both populations grow because both populations benefit. If another
factor, such as disease or an increase in predators, causes one population to shrink, the
other population may also shrink as a result. The mutualism between the two species
that make up the colorful patches of lichen you might see on a rock is so strong that, in
some interactions, neither can survive without the other. Each lichen is not an individual,
but a pair of organisms: an alga and a fungus. The alga acts as a plant does and uses
sunlight to produce food for both organisms, while the fungus provides structure and
shelter for the pair and also helps absorb water from the surroundings. Their
populations are linked such that when the fungus population increases, so does the
algae population.

1. What type of interactions leads to a positive impact on both species involved?

The interaction helps both populations grow because both populations benefit.

2. How do turtles and cleaner fish each benefit from their interactions? Explain your
answer

Mutualists depend on one another.

3. What is an example of a mutualism in which the two species depend on each other
for survival?

An example is that the population changes the size of the species.

Other Kinds of Interactions
A kitten scratches behind its ear. Oh no, it has
fleas! What is the interaction between the kitten and
the fleas that live on it? You have learned that
species interact with other species in different ways.
Sometimes one species benefits from an interaction
and the other is harmed, such as when a wolf preys
on a moose. Sometimes both species benefit, such
as when cleaner fish eat things growing on a sea
turtle’s shell. What other types of interactions are
there between species?

Commensalism
Some interactions between organisms in an
ecosystem help one organism and have no effect on
the other. Commensalism is a relationship between
two species in which one species benefits and the
other is unaffected. One example of commensalism
involves barnacles. Barnacles are sea creatures that
have hard shells. Some species spend their lives
stuck to rocks and other hard surfaces, where they wait for passing bits of food to float
by. Other species of barnacles stick to a surface that moves from place to place—such
as the body of a whale—in order to consume bits of food. The barnacle benefits from
being stuck to the whale, but the whale is mostly unaffected by the relationship.

Parasitism
A barnacle does not harm the whale, nor does it compete for resources, but
some organisms do cause harm. Parasitism is a relationship in which one species
benefits while the other is harmed but not usually killed. Parasitism is similar to
predation in that one species benefits while the other is harmed. A parasite lives on or in
a living organism called a host. A parasite usually does not kill the host, although it may
weaken it. Instead, it takes small amounts of resources from the host that, over time,
can weaken the host. The kitten is a host for its fleas. The fleas drink small amounts of
blood and live on the kitten but do not kill it.

For each interaction, describe whether each species has a positive, negative, or neutral
outcome, and then name the interaction.
1. A kitten has fleas that suck its blood.
2. A barnacle attaches to a whale to ride around finding food.

Scientists Predict Interactions

Suppose you are in charge of a wildlife preserve that is designed to protect snow
leopards, a wild cat species that is found in only a few places on Earth. Although the
preserve is designed to protect snow leopards, their population is declining. What can
you do to maintain or increase the snow leopard population?
If you know how snow leopards interact with other species, you can predict how
those interactions impact snow leopards. You can find ways to increase populations of
snow leopard prey or decrease populations of snow leopard competitors.
Scientists can make predictions like this because there are patterns in how
different interactions affect populations in ecosystems. Patterns of interactions can help
scientists predict and manage changes in populations. To understand why a population
is growing or shrinking, scientists look at its interactions with other populations. Each
interaction is rated as beneficial (+), harmful (–), or having no effect (0) on the
population’s growth. These patterns of interactions are found in ecosystems everywhere
on Earth.
 Armed with this information, scientists can manage populations of snow leopards
in their unique ecosystem. For example, they can reduce the negative impacts of a
parasite species or increase the positive impacts of a larger prey population on snow
leopards.
1. What are two types of interactions that might negatively impact an endangered snow
leopard population?

Scientists can manage populations of snow leopards

2. How could scientists use this information to help the snow leopard population
recover?

By using their unique ecosystem.

Phenomenon: ​All the acacia trees in a forest are swarming with ants, but the other tree
species have no ants. Watch video
Use what you have learned to explain this phenomenon. Be sure to address these
points in your explanation:

How can interactions impact the organisms involved?

They can reduce the negative impact of a parasite

What kinds of relationships can be beneficial to the organisms involved?

A barnacle does not harm a whale.