Our world is a large place, filled with amazing natural wonders. It is estimated that the combined total number of species living on earth and in the oceans is just under 9 million. Over many millennia, each species has carved its own path in a world that seldom looks kindly on weakness. Each variety of organism has found a particular niche to occupy, and it has learned how to specialize and survive. During this process both change and convergence are often rewarded. No species develops in a vacuum. All must adapt and react to subtle changes that are always occurring around them. The process of evolution may appear to be slow and unseen, but it is the ability to adapt quickly that keeps a species ahead of the curve.
Organisms have come up with some creative mechanisms and mannerisms, in order to endure. Some have even established a cooperative pact with other entities to the benefit of both species. This type of interaction is known as Mutualism.
The intent of the mutualistic portion of this website is to explore and showcase examples of mutualistic relationships between different species. We will take a look at the whole gambit of organisms that inhabit this planet, and find mutualistic partnerships wherever they exist. This is sure to be a journey of fascinating and wondrous interdependence and mutual assistance.
This site is not intended for professionals in the field of biology. The author does not have advanced training in biological sciences. The goal is to reach out to find what hard-working scientists have discovered, compile it and present it to others who crave to learn more about interactions within the natural world. Every effort has been made to provide accurate, unbiased information free from motivation or agenda, besides the desire to celebrate the diversity and incredible interrelationships which exist among a few of the 9 million species which live together on this planet.
Mutualistic Symbiotic Relationships of the Maned Wolf
Hitching a Ride: Sexton Beetles and Phoretic Mites
The Portuguese Man-of-War: A Very Strange Case
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