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BETTER TOGETHER: MARINE SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Even under water, life is better together. Symbiotic relationships happen in nature when two species rely on each other to thrive. Like you and your best friend helping each other to live your best lives. Or in our case, two underwater friends growing and living together with each other’s help.

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS AT THE DIG

Clownfish and the anemones are two unlikely friends you can see together at The Dig. While there are four types of symbiotic relationships—mutualism, parasitism, mimicry, and commensalism—these two BFFs are a prime example of a mutualistic symbiotic underwater friendship.


Mutualism: Where both organisms benefit, typically with food or protection.

CLOWNFISH AND ANEMONES: SYMBIOTIC ICONS

The clownfish thrive among the anemone, despite its venomous tendrils. Clownfish have developed a unique biological immunity to the toxin. Other fish aren’t so lucky and will feel the sting if they get too close—including predators. It’s the perfect protective hideout for this vibrant reef fish. In turn, the anemone feast on leftovers and crumbs from the clownfish’s meals, and their constant movement provides the anemone aeration that helps it breathe and grow.


Symbiotic relationships are a big part of how the natural world works, both at sea and on land, but the clownfish and anemones are one of the most iconic and recognizable examples.

 
CLOWN FISH

It makes a perfect hideout! This vibrant but diminutive reef species finds protection from larger predator fish that will feel the anemone’s sting if they get too close. The anemone, in turn, benefits by snacking on the scraps from the clown fish’s meals and enjoys a healthy flow of aeration from the constant movement of the clownfish.

ANEMONE FACTS

The colorful sea anemone (uh-NEM-uh-nee) is named after the terrestrial anemone flower. A close relative of coral and jellyfish, anemones are stinging polyps that attach to rocks on the sea bottom or on coral reefs waiting for fish to pass close enough to get ensnared in their venom-filled tentacles.

ANEMONE FACTS

There are more than 1,000 sea anemone species found throughout the world’s oceans at various depths, although the largest and most varied occur in coastal tropical waters like the Bahamas.

ANEMONE FACTS

In addition to the clownfish, some anemones also establish symbiotic relationships with green algae. In exchange for providing the algae safe harbor and exposure to sunlight, the anemone receives oxygen and sugar, the bi-products of the algae's photosynthesis.



MUTUALISM

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit, like through food or protection. The clownfish and anemone have a mutualistic symbiotic relationship.



PARASITISM

A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other, sometimes without killing the host organism.




MIMICRY

Is an event in nature where there appears to be a physical resemblance between two or more organisms that are not related. Serving as protection in some way from predation.



COMENSALISM

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits from another organism without it benefiting or being harmed.


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