Symbioses make the world go round

Joanna WeremijewiczUniversity of Miami

A close relationship between two different species

Parasitism (+/-)

Mutualism (+/+)

Commensalism (+/0)

Plants need symbioses for growth

Fungus hyphae (cells)

Plant root

Mycorrhizal fungi

Without mycorrhizal fungi

Withmycorrhizal

fungi

Mycorrhizal networks can

connect plants

belowground

Several

large plants

Many small

plants

Freq

uenc

y (%

)

Plant weight (g)

Competition is INCREASED when plants are connected by mycorrhizal networks