Question

Explain the term symbiosis and symbiont.

Answer 1

Symbiosis is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different species, be it mutualistic or parasitic.

Symbiotic relationships can be obligate, meaning that one or both of the symbionts entirely depend on each other for survival. For example, in lichens, which consist of fungal and photosynthetic symbionts, the fungal partners cannot live on their own.