SYMBIOSIS | mycorrhizas

SYMBIOSIS: Relationships between two or more disimilar organisms living and interacting together in close proximity

Small 'tree-shaped' arbuscule structure

Cartoon plant, root & arbuscule

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are sometimes also called 'endo-mycorrhizal fungi', in reference to the growth of arbuscules growing inside the cell walls of root cortical cells. In contrast 'ect-mycorrhizal' fungi reside between & outside of plant root cells.

Predator-prey & parasite-host

Small 'tree-shaped' arbuscule structure

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SYMBIOSIS: In common or everyday English language usage the term 'Symbiosis' is often mis-understood or mis-used to mean 'mutually beneficial' interactions between species.

For example, lichens are symbiotic organisms that have co-evolved from algae & fungi that took a 'likin' to each other after living together for a very long time.

However, despite this common opinion, in ecology & population biology studies the term 'Symbiosis' is derived from the prefix "sym" meaning "together", plus "biosis" meaning "living". Thus 'symbiosis' means "living together" in species interactions that may be either good, bad or indifferent

In modern life experience, hyperbole & exaggeration are common situations in many marketing or sales practices, ... However, in order to avoid expressing personal bias, opinions, guessing or assumptions in situations requiring 'evidenced-based' information contained on expert scientific reports, and or eye-witnesses in criminal court proceedings are discouraged from making exaggerated statements.

Scientific examinations of the nature of symbiotic relationships during seasonal environmental changes, & or during the lifespan of symbiotic organisms reveals a continuum of outcomes of interactions between 2 or more species. Population biologists & ecologists, including the Late Professor Eugene Odum have contributed to the scientific language that describes this continuum of 2-species interactions, including (+/+) muually benefits; (0/+) commensalism; (0/0) neutralism; (0/-) amensalism; competiton; & (+/-) predator/prey & parasite/host interactions