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Symbiotic Relationships in the ArcticApril 9, 2014 By Creedence Gerlach

It’s said that every species is interdependent on one another in order to survive. This statement is

absolutely true since every species is literally a part of the food chain. One of the harshest

environments to survive in is undoubtedly the vast frozen wilderness of the Arctic. In spite of its

brutal accommodations, it plays host to several animals as well as plant life. Many various

symbiotic relationships (involvement of two organisms) can be seen in the Arctic. These

relationships can be commensalistic, parasitic, or mutual in nature. Symbiotic relationships are a

natural and necessary function of our planet – without them, nothing would survive.

Commensalism

via flickr/Mark Dumont

The Arctic isn’t the friendliest environment for vegetation to grow, which is why the animals of that

environment have limited options regarding food. The caribou eat lichens when the temperature

gets super cold. Often, it’s the only available food they have, but does provide them with

nourishing carbohydrates for heat and energy. The arctic fox instinctively knows to follow the

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caribou since the caribou helps the fox get its food as well by unintentionally digging up subnivean

mammals as it finds its own food to eat. This is a true example of symbiotic relationships.

Parasitism

via nunatsiaqonline.ca

Another instance of symbiotic relationships is called parasitism. This is the relationship between

two organisms in which one of them benefits while the other loses out in the relationship. Indeed,

even the Arctic has parasitism. Typically, it is seen in the case of a liver tapeworm cyst. These

organisms are prone to live and thrive in the bodies of various animals including wolves, caribou,

polar bears, and moose. They feed on the food the animal eats, and as a result, the animal

develops malnutrition.

Mutualism

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via flickr/AlaskaNPS

Mutualism is a relationship where two organisms benefit from one another. A typical example of

this is in the case of lichens. Lichen consists of green alga and fungus. The alga is naturally

photosynthetic and therefore able to transform carbon dioxide into the sugar that fungus feeds on.

Meanwhile, the fungal counterpart helps protect the alga by getting minerals from substrate and

retaining water. As a result, the green alga and the fungus both benefit from their relationship.

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