Mutualism
Mutualism is when both organism benefit from a certain scenario. An organism can live inside the other while it helps it or they can just simply work together.
A silver fox and cacti fruit have a mutualistic relationship. The silver fox will eat the cacti fruit which contains seeds then when the silver fox lets out its feces, the seeds are there and will be able to grow in some other places. The fox also benefits because it gets food to have energy. |
Parasitism
Parasitism is when one organism benefits while the other loses. One of them can feed off the other or it can harm the other organism.
A silver fox and a tick have a parasitism relationship. The tick is the one that is doing the harming. The tick will latch on to the silver fox and suck it's blood. The silver fox is losing blood and it can also be very painful or can cause an infection to the silver fox. |
Commensalism
Commensalism is when one benefits and the other doesn't but isn't harmed. One is protecting the other for food or is used for transportation. The silver fox and spined seeds form a commensalistic relationship. The spined seeds are the ones that are benefiting. They use the fox as a tool for transportation. The seeds get stuck on to the foxes fur and are spread out letting them grow in many different places. The fox isn't harmed because these seeds don't hurt or damage the foxes body. |