Symbiotic Relationships (Kelsey Osborne)

       In our science class, we have learned about three different types of symbiotic relationships: parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism.
       Parasitism is any relationship between two organisms, where one organism benefits and the other is harmed. For example, a mosquito is a parasite. Mosquitos 'bite' people for food, and while the mosquitos benefit, the people who are 'bitten' are harmed. Mosquitos can spread diseases, and anyone who is 'bitten' by a mosquito can get that disease.
       Commensalism is any relationship between two organisms, where one organism benefits and the other isn't affected. If a bird were to rest on a cow's back, that would be commensalism. The bird benefits because it can rest, and the cow isn't affected because the bird isn't hurting it.
       Mutualism is any relationship between two organisms, where both organisms benefit. The relationship between plants and animals/humans is an example of mutualism. Plants take sunlight and carbon dioxide and use it to go through photosynthesis and produce oxygen. Humans and animals breathe in that oxygen to break down food for energy, and produce the carbon dioxide that plants use for photosynthesis.