Mutualism

Mutualism- Lichens , protozoa , Rumen bacteria, Bees and flowers, humans gut bacteria, nitrogen fixing Bacteria

1. Agricultural Microbiology Microbial interactions- Mutualism Presentation by: A.Abinaya Kalyani III B.Sc Microbiology

2. Mutualism

3. Mutualism Mutualism occurs on the association of two populations in which there occurs a close and often permanent and obligatory contact, where both the populations are benefitted is called mutualism. The term mutualism was first coined by Debary (1877) and literally means ‘living together’.

4. Mutualism ( latin mutus means borrowed) defines the relationship between two organisms which are mutually benefitted. The relationship is an obligatory relationship. Mutualism may lead to evolution of new organisms. This interaction happens between two organism when they are in need of resources such as food, light and space. The organisms which are in mutualistic relationship metabolically depend on each other. When the organisms in this interactions are seperated they will not survive.

5. The mutualistic organisms lose their individuality and become a single organism. Some of the relationships are explained below: Lichens: Lichens are organisms of symbiotic association in which a highly specialised fungal partner ( mycobiont ) inhabits in itself an algal patner ( phycobiont ). It is a thallus of undifferentiated tissues because of two symbionts . The fungal component mostly belong to class Ascomycetes .

6. Lichens are cosmopolitan in distribution, found in varied habitats from mountain tops to sea shores based on which they are of three different types: Saxicoles which grow on rocks, usually in cold areas. Corticoles which grow on barks of trees usually in the tropical and subtropical areas. Terriclies which grow in soil, in hot areas.

7. Types of lichens: Saxicoles Corticoles Terriclies

8. Endosymbionts of protozoa: Here algae and protozoa exhibit mutualism. Paramaecium hosts Chorella within its cytoplasm. Presence of chorella allows the protozoan to move into anaerobic habitats as long as there is sufficient light. The foraminiferans (protozoa) lodge pyrrophycophycean members (red algae) within their cells. The algae import red colour to the protozoans and each protozoan can contain about 50-100 algal cells. There are few bacterial symbionts within protozoans . Endosymbiotic methanogens have been found in anaerobic ciliate protozoans living within the rumen, for example , Methanobacterium , Methanocarpusculum and Methanoplanus. They faclitate material exchange between the protozoan membranes and the bacterias

9. Zoochlorellae Protozoa Red algae

10. Other examples for mutualism: Rumen bacteria in a deer stomach allow the deer to digest cellulose while the bacteria grow in warm environment. 1.RUMEN BACTERIA IN DEER:

11. 2.The bee and the flower: Bees collect nectar from flowers which they make into food. When they land on the flower they get pollen stuck to their bodies. They spread this pollen to other flowers, pollinating the plants.

12. The nitrogen fixing bacteria ( Rhizobium ) that live in the nodules of the roots of the leguminous plants. Nitrogen fixing bacteria:

13. Bacteria and the human: Bacteria lives in the intestines of humans. The bacteia helps the human by digesting food that the human cannot. They get a meal and the humans able to digest the food.

14. Conclusion: In Conclusion, somehow all creatures are related together, directly and indirectly. Mutualism is the way of two or more species cooperate together to survive.

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