1. What is mutualism? Distinguish between obligate and facultative mutualism. 2.
ID: 64617 • Letter: 1
Question
1. What is mutualism? Distinguish between obligate and facultative mutualism.
2. Fungi are involved in the following types of mutualistic relationships with plants or animals: mycorrhizae with plant roots, fungal endophytes in leaves of grasses and other plants, gut fungi in animals. Explain each of the following relationships and explain the benefits to each organism involved.
3. Bacteria are involved in the following types of mutualistic relationships with animals or plants. Explain each of the following relationships and explain the benefits to the organisms involved: hydrothermal vent worms (vestimentiferans) and bacteria within them, bioluminescent deep sea fish, plants and nitrogen fixing bacteria.
4. Describe the mutualistic relationship between:
coral and zooxanthellae ants & acacia plants
seagrass and algal epiphytes growing on seagrass coral reef fish and
associated cleaner fish or shrimp
5. Explain how to conduct a study that tests for the effects of mutualism.
Explanation / Answer
Q1). The relationship between two organism where both partners get benifitted.
Facultative mutualism : One of the partners of mutualism can live without their mutualistic partners.
Obligate mutualism : One of the partners of mutualism dependent upon the mutualistic relationship that they cannot live in its absence.
Q2).
Mycorrhizae with plant roots
Mycorrhizae, which are mostly important in increasing plant access to water, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients. In return, mycorrhizae receive energy-rich root exudates.
Fungal endophytes in leaves of grasses and other plants.
Endophytic fungi can provide important benefits to grasses, such as anti-herbivory from insects, vertebrates and also contribute drought tolerance and improved growth of the plant. In turn the plant provides the fungi with shelter and food.
Gut fungi in animals.
Fungi helps in digestion of cellulose in ruminant animals and in turn fungi get shelter and food.
Q3).
Hydrothermal vent worms (vestimentiferans) and bacteria
The vestimentiferans do not have a mouth or gut instead they rely on mutualistic symbiotic bacteria living in their tissues to produce the 'cell food' needed to keep them alive. In turn bacteria get shelter.
Bioluminescent deep sea fish
The deep water fish evolved to be able to utilize light producing microbes to cope with the harsh conditions of their environment. They have developed a symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria, with specialized organs that provide bioluminescent bacteria with sufficient food and a safe place to live. In return, fish can use the bacteria to emit a light to aid in camouflage,hunting, and attracting mates.
Plants and nitrogen fixing bacteria
Nitrogen fixing bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen in to soluble form to the plants inturn bacteria are provided shelter.
Q4).
Coral and zooxanthellae
zooxanthellae receive nutrients from their animal partner. In return, the coral receives organic compounds synthesized by zooxanthellae during photosynthesis.
Ants & acacia plants
The plants provide the ants with nest sites and food in turn plants get defense by the ants
Seagrass and algal epiphytes growing on seagrass
Epiphyte cover may benefit seagrass by reducing desiccation during low tide or by protecting it from UV radiation. The epiphytes benefit from this relationship with seagrasses by gaining a structure on which to grow and by consuming nutrients that seagrasses leak
Coral reef fish and associated cleaner fish or shrimp
Shrimp cleans the body surface of the reef fish inturn shrimp gets food, left by reef fish.
Q5).
We need to have mutual partners and grow them in vitro. First we can study the effect of mutualism by disassociating one of the partners.
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