symbiosis

Symbiosis is a close, long-term relationship between two different species, where both, one, or neither benefit. For example, in mutualism, both species gain advantages, like bees and flowers—bees get nectar, flowers get pollinated. In commensalism, one species benefits without harming the other, like barnacles attaching to a whale. In parasitism, one benefits at the other's expense, such as ticks feeding on a host. These interactions help organisms survive, reproduce, or better adapt to their environment, highlighting the interconnectedness of life in ecosystems.