Symbiotic relationships between animals of another species are at the very core of existence for many forms of life on this planet, an abundance of which inhabit the sea. Though it seems such a tranquil place to those of us who pass through on our dives, the ocean is a rather brutal environment, brimming with predators and potentially life-threatening situations at every turn. Without symbiosis, survival simply wouldn’t be a possibility for some creatures, against whom the deck is stacked due to their diminutive size, lack of defensive physiology, or any number of other factors that make them vulnerable. Working with their neighbors is the only way to stay alive.
Some symbiotic relationships only benefit one party, and in some there is actually harm caused to one party, while still others shake out pretty evenly when it comes to mutual benefits. The most well-known of marine symbiotic relationships is the one between sea anemones and clownfish, in which both benefit from the presence of each other. The clownfish chases away predators and helps to aerate the tentacles of the anemone so that it gets a constant fresh supply of oxygenated water, while the anemone’s stinging tentacles offer effective protection from the clownfish’s predators, who receives an added food bonus provided by the scraps of the anemone’s prey. Without access to oxygenated water, the anemone would wither and die, and without the stinging tentacles of the anemone, the clownfish would be much more vulnerable to predators. Even in the sea, “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” applies! Check out this informative video on the various symbiotic relationships in the world’s oceans.
