The Fantastic Oceanic Relationship

We often see sharks swimming along with a Remora Fish and green turtles are more colorful with some of the hitchers at their back.  This behavior is called Symbiosis it is the interaction between two different organisms living in a close physical association. The relationship between associates and their hosts is called Symbiotic relationships

Types of Symbiotic Relationships

• Commensalism – when one species benefits and one is unaffected.
• Parasitism – when one species benefits and the other is Harmed.
• Mutualism – when both species benefit from each other.
• Mimicry – when one harmless organism evolves to look similar to another poisonous organism. This stops predators from eating them because they think they are poisonous species. They can also use mimicry to appear larger than they are.

Below are the famous Commensalism and Mutualism commonly found when diving in the Maldives

Clown Fish and Sea Anemone (Commensalism)

The clownfish and the sea anemone help each other survive in the ocean. The clownfish, while being provided with food, clean away fish and algae leftovers from the anemone. Also, the sea anemones are given better water circulation because the clownfish fan their fins while swimming.

Source: Tolweb

 

Remora Fish and Shark (Commensalism)

A Remora fish would attach itself to a shark and use the shark for transportation and eat all the food that is leftover from the shark. Remora is getting its food and the shark gets no benefit. Studies suggest that the remoras clean parasites from the shark’s teeth and perhaps skin.

They are commonly found attached to sharks, manta rays, whales, turtles, and dugongs, hence the common names “sharksucker” and “whalesucker”. Smaller remoras also fasten onto fish such as tuna and swordfish, and some small remoras travel in the mouths or gills of large manta rays, ocean sunfish, swordfish, and sailfish.

Source: z2eddifud0_n

 

Green Sea Turtles and Surgeonfish (Commensalism)

Surgeonfish specifically Yellow Tang mostly like to graze on algae. Those seeking an easy smorgasbord stake out some territory and set up cleaning stations where turtles, fish, and other animals know they can drop by to get their annoying algae and other pesky hitchhikers nibbled off.

Endangered green turtles are one of many customers at some cleaning stations, which surgeonfish typically set up near coral reefs. Generations of surgeonfish keep the stations going in the same place. The turtle approaches the seafloor, and the fish visually inspect it to see which algae patches are most appetizing. Then they gorge away, feeding with rapid bites that scrape the algae-covered flippers and shells clean. The fish get a nutritious meal; and with smoother shells, the turtles can swim more easily, saving energy on their long migratory journeys to the beaches where they were born.

Source: pewtrusts

 

Humans and Bottlenose Dolphins (Commensalism)

Humans and Bottlenose Dolphins have created a commensalism symbiotic relationship. This is one of three symbiotic relationships in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected. Bottlenose Dolphins help humans by attacking a group of fish forcing the fish to swim away. While the Bottlenose Dolphin is chasing the fish the Bottlenose Dolphin is directing them toward the fisherman. Before the fish realize what is happening to them they get trapped in the human net. In this case, the human benefits, and the Bottlenose Dolphin is unaffected.

Source: Darwinsreef

Crabs and Sponges (Mutualism)

The crabs and sponges share a mutual symbiotic relationship with each other, These crabs gather their living armor as they walk along the ocean floor, cutting bits of sponges and anemones to add to their wide carapace.

Source: prezi.com/mqgp1pqvxfg1

Goby & Pistol Shrimp (Mutualism)

The goby benefits from the shrimp’s digging and construction skills, having access to a well-built burrow. Pistol shrimps have poor eyesight, and they use gobies as an early warning system to detect predators.

Gobies tend to hover just outside the shared burrow, catching passing zooplankton or small benthic invertebrates. In many cases, the shrimps maintain contact with the gobies by using their long antennae, and the gobies signal to the shrimps using specific fin flicks. Some species of goby also appear to feed their shrimps, spitting food into the burrow, and even without such deliberate actions, the shrimps may feed on fragments of food that the gobies drop.

Source: tfhmagazine

Moray Eel & Cleaner Shrimp (Mutualism)

The shrimp congregate in teams called a ‘cleaning station’ and move across the whole body of the eel – including inside the mouth – removing parasites and dead skin, which is their food. This cleaning ensures good health for the eel, so both species benefit.

Source: Underwater dentistry

 

When diving into the Maldives get a chance to witness this amazing behavior with Maldives Boat Club Liveaboards and let our professional divemaster guide you.