symbiont
Organism sharing life
A symbiont is an organism that lives in close physical association with another species.
The relationship may benefit both parties (mutualism), benefit one without harming the other (commensalism), or benefit one at the other's expense (parasitism).
Gut bacteria are symbionts; so are the algae inside coral.
In science fiction, symbiont often describes an alien life form that bonds with a host: The symbiont granted its host enhanced abilities.
Striped reef fish, anemone symbiont
- anemoneTentacled polyp or bloom
- lichenSymbiotic rock dweller
- coralMarine skeletal formation
- nitrogen-fixingConverting N₂ to ammonia
pollinator · oxpecker · mitochondria · chloroplast · ruminant · legume · nodule · reciprocity
One receiving guests
- nicheRecessed wall space
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- fitnessGood physical shape
interdependence · obligate · facultative · specificity · colonization · establishment · integration · superorganism
One receiving guests
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
- leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
- tapewormSegmented intestinal parasite
tick · hookworm · plasmodium · ectoparasite · endoparasite · exploitation · infection · infestation
Cell's energy-producing organelles
- chloroplastLight-harvesting cell structure
- plasmidSelf-replicating DNA circle
- microbiomeBody's microbial community
- mutualistPartner in mutual benefit
coevolution · intracellular · host cell · nitrogen fixation · plastid · phylogenetics
Fish with adhesive disc
- sharkCartilaginous marine predator
- epiphyteNon-parasitic botanical hitchhiker
- barnacleSessile marine crustacean
- whaleHuge sea mammal
pilotfish · orchid · bromeliad · pseudoscorpion · commensal · hitchhiker · neutral · attachment
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
- probioticHealthful live microorganism supplement
- lactobacillusAcid-producing beneficial bacterium
- microbiotaResident microscopic organisms
colonization · prebiotic · fermentation · digestion · immunity · homeostasis · archaea
clownfish
Striped reef fish, anemone symbiont
nitrogen-fixing · pollinator · oxpecker · mitochondria · chloroplast · ruminant · legume · nodule · reciprocity · coevolution
host
One receiving guests
- nicheRecessed wall space
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
fitness · interdependence · obligate · facultative · specificity · colonization · establishment · integration · superorganism · ecosystem
host
One receiving guests
tapeworm · tick · hookworm · plasmodium · ectoparasite · endoparasite · exploitation · infection · infestation · virulence
mitochondria
Cell's energy-producing organelles
- chloroplastLight-harvesting cell structure
- plasmidSelf-replicating DNA circle
- microbiomeBody's microbial community
mutualist · coevolution · intracellular · host cell · nitrogen fixation · plastid · phylogenetics
remora
Fish with adhesive disc
- sharkCartilaginous marine predator
- epiphyteNon-parasitic botanical hitchhiker
- barnacleSessile marine crustacean
whale · pilotfish · orchid · bromeliad · pseudoscorpion · commensal · hitchhiker · neutral · attachment · transport
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
- probioticHealthful live microorganism supplement
- lactobacillusAcid-producing beneficial bacterium
microbiota · colonization · prebiotic · fermentation · digestion · immunity · homeostasis · archaea
- life formsorganisms, organism, lifeforms, animal, creatures
- mycologymycology, mushroom, toadstool, mycelium, mycorrhizae
- Star TrekSpock, Kirk, Enterprise, USS Enterprise, Captain Kirk
- ecosystem rolesdecomposer, predator, prey, producer, consumer
- symbiosismycorrhizae, mutualism, parasitism, commensalism, remora
- fungal traitsspores, hyphae, mycelium, gills, pores
symbiontparasite
One exploiting a host
pathogen · predator · infectious agent · exploiter · parasitoid
- symbiotic relationshipInterdependent species partnership
- industrial symbiosisBusinesses exchanging waste as resources
- symbiotic bacteriaMicrobes in mutual-benefit relationships
symbiosis, symbiotic, symbioses, symbiote, symbionts, symbiotically, symbiotes