symbionts

Symbionts are organisms that live together in close relationship, often benefiting each other. Examples include microbes living inside our gut that help digest food, or plants hosting fungi that provide nutrients. These relationships can be mutualistic, where both partners benefit, or commensal, where one benefits without harming the other. Symbionts are essential for many biological processes, influencing health, ecosystems, and evolution. They are a natural part of life, thriving in a variety of environments, and highlight how interconnected living organisms are in supporting the health and stability of ecosystems and individual organisms alike.