Symbiosis

Symbiosis is a type of interaction between organisms in nature in which both species benefit from the interaction. Both species coexist and mutually help each other. Symbiotic relationships can occur between different species, such as between a plant and an animal or between a bacterium and a fungus. They are essential to life on Earth because most organisms engage in symbiotic interactions to obtain the resources they need to survive.

Symbiosis can manifest itself in various forms. For example, the oribatid mite is a predator of flies, but at the same time provides them with nitrogen and other nutrients, receiving in return protection from aggressive predators. These mites are called “beneficial insects.” Other examples of beneficial symbiosis include the relationship between fungi and plants, where fungi promote plant growth and provide food resources, and plants provide the fungi with habitat and carbon dioxide to produce spores.

In addition, there are forms of symbiosis that can be harmful. Viruses are known to live inside the cells of other organisms. Some viruses cause diseases such as smallpox or AIDS by killing their host's cells or weakening their immune system. At the same time, there are viruses that cooperate with human cells, creating the genetic material of viruses in the host cells.