Question of the Week

Question of the Week:

What is Protocooperation?

Solution:

Protocooperation refers to a kind of interaction between living organisms of different species where both organisms benefit but neither is dependent on the relationaship. Though the organisms benefit from relationship with each other but survival is possible without the relationship also.

An example of protocooperation is the connection between ants and aphids. The ant searches for food on trees and shrubs that are hosts to honeydew-secreting species such as aphids, mealybugs, and some scales. The ant gathers the sugary substance and takes it to its nest as food for its offspring. It has been known for the ant to stimulate the aphid to secrete honeydew straight into its mouth. In areas where the ant inhabits the same ecosystem as the plant the plants normally suffer from a higher presence of aphids which is detrimental to the plant but not to the two species protocooperating.

The flowers of plants that are pollinated by insects and birds benefit from protocooperation. The plants, particularly those with large bright colourful flowers bearing nectar glands, experience cross pollination because of the insects activities. This is beneficial to the insect that has got the food supply of pollen and nectar.

Protocooperation can occur in birds. This is something that we can see in our surroundings. The cattle egret in America as well does the same task of removing the unwanted insects and parasites. The Egyptian plover removes insect pests from the backs of buffalo, antelope, giraffes, rhinos, and also leeches from the open mouths of crocodiles.

Recall those Discovery documentaries on undersea environment. Certain small fish moving closely along the larger ones actually perform the task of cleaning the larger fish, by removing ectoparasites, cleaning wounded flesh, and getting rid of dead flesh. Even predatory fish rely on cleansing symbionts, and adopt a placid state while they are cleansed. The fish that do the cleansing are often concentrated around specific sites where the other fish come to be cleansed these are known as cleansing stations.