Mutualistic Relationships in the Savanna
A mutual relationship, is a relationship between two different organisms where both organisms benefit.
There are many different types of mutualistic relationships that can be found in the Savanna.
Ants and Acacia Tree:
There are many acacia trees in the savanna that have ants living all over them; you might think this is a bad thing, but the tree is actually benefiting from it. The ants live in the acacia tree, making their home there. The ants are also provided with food - the sweet parts of the tree. The ants will attack on any herbivorous bugs or insects that try to feed on the leaves of the tree. The tree then benefits by not getting its leaves eaten. Interestingly enough, the ants will not attack any insects that will help pollinate the tree (such as bees), which allows the tree to reproduce.
Oxpeckers, Elephants and Zebras:
Oxpeckers sit on the backs of zebras, and receive their food by eating the ticks and other parasites off the zebra. In return, the ox-pecker alerts the zebras if there are predators approaching by giving a loud chirp, and the zebra is able to get parasites off its body.
The elephant is a big animal, but the little ox-pecker bird will sit on top of the elephant and groom it. The bird also benefits because the elephant offers protection from any predators.
Nile Crocodile and Egyptian Plover:
The Nile Crocodile lies with its mouth open in the tropical regions of Africa. The Egyptian Plover bird flies into its mouth and feeds on bits of decaying meat stuck in between the crocodiles teeth. Surprisingly, the crocodile doesn't eat the plover, it just keeps its mouth open, allowing the bird to clean its teeth. At the same time the bird benefits because it gets a meal. Coincidentally, the Egyptian Plover is also known as the crocodile bird.
There are also predator verses prey relationships. To see some examples of these, watch the video below.
There are many different types of mutualistic relationships that can be found in the Savanna.
Ants and Acacia Tree:
There are many acacia trees in the savanna that have ants living all over them; you might think this is a bad thing, but the tree is actually benefiting from it. The ants live in the acacia tree, making their home there. The ants are also provided with food - the sweet parts of the tree. The ants will attack on any herbivorous bugs or insects that try to feed on the leaves of the tree. The tree then benefits by not getting its leaves eaten. Interestingly enough, the ants will not attack any insects that will help pollinate the tree (such as bees), which allows the tree to reproduce.
Oxpeckers, Elephants and Zebras:
Oxpeckers sit on the backs of zebras, and receive their food by eating the ticks and other parasites off the zebra. In return, the ox-pecker alerts the zebras if there are predators approaching by giving a loud chirp, and the zebra is able to get parasites off its body.
The elephant is a big animal, but the little ox-pecker bird will sit on top of the elephant and groom it. The bird also benefits because the elephant offers protection from any predators.
Nile Crocodile and Egyptian Plover:
The Nile Crocodile lies with its mouth open in the tropical regions of Africa. The Egyptian Plover bird flies into its mouth and feeds on bits of decaying meat stuck in between the crocodiles teeth. Surprisingly, the crocodile doesn't eat the plover, it just keeps its mouth open, allowing the bird to clean its teeth. At the same time the bird benefits because it gets a meal. Coincidentally, the Egyptian Plover is also known as the crocodile bird.
There are also predator verses prey relationships. To see some examples of these, watch the video below.