Question

Suppose that you have an environmental sample that when streaked out on agar, grows two different bacterial organisms with both cocci and bacilli which are not able to streak out for individual culture. From an ecological perspective, what kind of organisms might you have isolated? [1 mark] 2) Discuss the difference between the ecological concepts of symbiosis and mutualism. [2 marks] 3) If the organism that you were isolating in question 1 were pleomorphic, what would this mean? [2 marks] 4) How might you tell the difference using experiments whether what you are seeing in question one is an ecological effect or a developmental effect?

Answer 1

Ans 1. Organisms isolated are co-dependent type. As co-dependent meaning they are somehow dependent for growth of themselves on other organism.

Ans 2. Mutualism is a type of interaction in which two or more species are benefited, it may be commensalism(one species benefit), mutualism(both benefit), or parasitism from relationship while in Symbiosis type of interaction there is contact between two partners both are benefited but not persistent.

In Symbiosis, one partner is often smaller Symbiont and other is bigger known as host.

Ans 3. Pleomorphic is situation in which cell can alter the shape and size of body according to environment. So, there is a chance that cells which are isolated are of same species but have shown pleomorphism.

Ans 4. Effect here observed is ecological effect as due to continuous generation of co-dependence would have generated this type of two species which are dependent on each other for survival.