Question

In regards to microbes that we have a mutualistic association with? If so, how do we aid each other?

Can you find any other examples of mutualistic relationships in nature (macro- or microbiotic) that you can find?

Answer 1

1. There is a mutualistic association between humans and microbes

We could find lot of examples for this association everyday around us. Mutualism is one of the major ecological interactions where the two individuals in a relationship benefits. Our body is a place of residence for millions of bacteria. They are almost at everyplace. The bacteria which are present on the surfaces of respiratory, digestive and excretory tracts prevent the harmful microbes to occupy and damage our body. Intestinal Escherichia coli can produce digestive enzymes and vitamin B₁₂. It also improves digestion in humans. While we are giving place of residence for all of them. It is also seen to improve human immune system in some cases. These are all the direct examples as we are in direct contact with them.

We are using microbes in sewage treatment plants. We are providing harmful substances for them and they are taking them up and degrading into ecologically harmless substances. We are utilizing microbes in the production of gobar gas, curd etc. Methanogens used to convert the cow dung into efficient cooking fuel, lactobacillus used to convert milk into the curd. In all these cases we are providing nourishment to the microbes, while cultivating economically useful products which are the end products of their metabolic pathways

Hence it is clear that we are in a mutualistic association with microbes.

2. Examples of mutualistic association

Nature is a place where we could find lot of ecological interactions. The most important interaction which is making the survival of species more comfortable is undoubtedly the mutualistic association.

Lichens are the symbiotic association between algae and fungi The algal component prepares food and the fungal component gives attachment to the substratum and absorbs water and gives it to the algae.

Flowers give honey or nector to the birds while those birds help in the pollination.

Rhizobium and legumes plants are always in a symbiotic mutualistic association. Rhizobium takes its residence from the plants and gives nitrogen sources to the plants in return.