Estuaries have complex ecosystems. This biome includes several examples of mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, competition, and predation.
An example of each is listed below:
An example of each is listed below:
- An example of mutualism is clown fish and sea anemones. The sea anemones benefits from the clown fish by getting food, and clown fish benefit from sea anemones by getting protection from prey.
- An example of commensalism is barnacles and whales. Barnacles get shelter from whales while the whale is unaffected.
- An example of parasitism is the boring sponge and oysters. The boring sponge breaks through oysters. When this occurs, the boring sponge is benefiting from the oyster while the oyster is harmed. This means that the boring sponge is a parasite and the oyster is the host.
- An example of competition is oysters and slipper lampets. Oysters and slipper lampets compete for space in an estuary.
- An example of a predator-prey relationship is zoo-plankton and phyto-plankton. Phyto-plankton is eaten by zoo-plankton.