- Living things that feed off other living things are called parasites.
- Living things that depend on each other to live are called symbiotic.
- Many tropical rainforest trees have a symbiotic relationship with fungi on their roots. The fungi get energy from the trees and in return give the trees phosphorus and other nutrients.
- A phyte is a plant that grows on another plant.
- Epiphytes are plants that grow high up on other plants, especially in tropical rainforests.
- Many plants rely on bees and butterflies to spread their pollen. In return, they give nectar.
- Saprophytes are plants and fungi that depend on decomposing material, not sunlight, for sustenance.
- Most orchids are saprophytic as seedlings.
- Corsiaceae orchids of New Guinea, Australia and Chile are saprophytic all their lives.
- Various ants, such as leaf-cutter and harvester ants in tropical forests, line their nests with leaves which they cut up. The leaves provide food for fungi which, in lure, provide food for the ants.
Quizzes
- Informative quiz on symbiosis in nature. Take the quiz! click here
- Fun and interactive quiz on ecosystem. Take the quiz! click here
- Animal classification in the ecosystem. Take the quiz! click here
Games
Play these new exciting games.
- Ecosystem:Mutualism Slide Puzzle. click here
- Marine Ecosystem Slide Puzzle. click here
- Experience the planetarium. click here
