Symbiosis
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Symbiosis is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two biological organisms of different species, termed symbionts, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic. In 1879, Heinrich Anton de Bary defined it as "the living together of unlike organisms". The term is sometimes used in the more restricted sense of a mutually beneficial interaction in which both symbionts contribute to each other's support.
In a cleaning symbiosis, the clownfish feeds on small invertebrates, that otherwise have potential to harm the sea anemone, and the fecal matter from the clownfish provides nutrients to the sea anemone. The clownfish is protected from predators by the anemone's stinging cells, to which the clownfish is immune. The relationship is therefore classified as mutualistic.
Alder tree root nodule houses endosymbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Hermit crab, Calcinus laevimanus, with sea anemone
Bryoliths document a mutualistic symbiosis between a hermit crab and encrusting bryozoans.
Trentepohlia (alga)
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Trentepohlia is a genus of filamentous chlorophyte green algae in the family Trentepohliaceae, living free on terrestrial supports such as tree trunks and wet rocks or symbiotically in lichens. The filaments of Trentepohlia have a strong orange colour caused by the presence of large quantities of carotenoid pigments which mask the green of the chlorophyll.
Trentepohlia aurea, Tauberland, Germany
Trentepohlia aurea var. polycarpa grows prolifically on Monterey Cypress trees at Point Lobos, California
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