Symbiosis of Polar Bears

The Polar Bear and the Arctic Fox

http://animal-backgrounds.com/files/Arctic%20Fox/polar_bear_cub_and_arctic_fox-wallpaper.jpg

Symbiosis is a close, and often long-term relationship between two or more species of organisms in which, species of organisms depend on other species to sustain life. Symbiotic relationships of organisms play influential roles in the population cycle. The most common types of symbiosis include commensalism, parasitism, and mutualism. Polar bears share a mutualistic relationship with the arctic foxes. Mutualism is a relationship in which both species of organisms benefit from each other. The arctic foxes follow behind polar bears and feed on the wastes of their meals (Arctic Studies Center, 2004). The polar bear benefits from the arctic foxes by sometimes hunting them for food (Arctic Studies Center, 2004). Polar bears also share a symbiotic relationship with parasitic worms Trichinella. They share a parasitic relationship in which only one species of organisms benefit from another and the other is harmed. The larvae of the trinchinella attach to various parts of the polar bear’s body, especially the muscle tissues. When too many of the larvae attach in one specific area such as the heart, the tissues are seriously damaged and may potentially leads to death (SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, 2014).

Trichinella Wormhttp://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2009/maiers_andr/

Reference List

Arctic Studies Center.(2004) Arctic Fox. (Date Accessed: 02,13,2014). http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/html/arctic_fox.html

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Polar Bears. Longevity & Causes of Death. (Date accessed: 02, 13, 2014.) http://seaworld.org/animalinfo/animal-info/animal-infobooks/polar-bears/longevity-and-causes-of-death/