Symbiosis, as a biological process, refers to the sustained and often co-evolved interaction between individuals of different species, encompassing mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. It involves reciprocal physiological, metabolic, or ecological influences that can alter fitness, resource use, and niche breadth of the partners. Mechanistically, symbioses may include nutrient exchange (e.g., metabolites, fixed nitrogen, photosynthate), protection from predators or stress, and coordinated signaling pathways (such as molecular recognition via surface receptors). These interactions can drive genomic adaptations, including gene gain, loss, or transfer, and can structure communities and ecosystems by modifying energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and coevolutionary dynamics.
Sleep is essential for much of the animal kingdom. During the night, neuron and tissue repair mechanisms are activated to aid recovery from daily activity. This is risky: organisms that sleep are more vulnerable to predators. ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 28, 2026
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For 450 million years, plants and soil fungi have been trading partners. The fungi weave through plant roots, delivering phosphorus and other soil minerals in exchange for sugars and fats produced by the plant through photosynthesis. ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Jan 22, 2026
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A research team has achieved a significant breakthrough in understanding the adaptive strategies of the deep-sea black coral Bathypathes pseudoalternata (B. pseudoalternata) and its symbiotic microbiome. The study has been ...
Ecology
Dec 29, 2025
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An international team of researchers led by the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology has uncovered a hidden world of tiny partnerships thriving in wastewater treatment plants worldwide. The microscopic allies—specialized ...
Ecology
Dec 15, 2025
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Scientists have discovered that beneficial root-dwelling fungi boost plant resilience to disease by remodeling the plant cell membrane at pathogen infection sites—offering critical new insights into how plants coordinate ...
Plants & Animals
Dec 11, 2025
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86
In a new study published in Horticulture Research, a team of researchers from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has demonstrated that designed synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) ...
Biotechnology
Nov 16, 2025
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Researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) have imaged a heritable form of bacterial symbiosis inside the reproductive system of tiny crustaceans known as ostracods.
Ecology
Nov 12, 2025
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Just as the human body contains a multitude of symbiotic microbial companions, most plant species also live alongside microbial friends. Among these companions are mycorrhizal fungi, which help plants gather water and nutrients—particularly ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 22, 2025
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A new manuscript published in the Journal of Fish Biology reveals that relationships between fish and sea anemones are more diverse than those portrayed in "Finding Nemo." Captured through breathtaking blackwater photography, ...
Ecology
Oct 7, 2025
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19
Some species of termites are known to cultivate their own crops of fungus within their nests, similar to the way humans maintain farms to feed people. One such species is Odontotermes obesus, which cultivates the fungus Termitomyces. ...
