What examples of each type of symbiosis are in the South Eastern Woodland Ecosystem?

Symbiosis is a fascinating example of biological interaction! Mutualism is a particularly interesting type of symbiosis because both parties involved receive some form of benefit from the interaction. One of my favorite examples of this is pollination. It is an extremely critical process to the health of the ecosystem and serves as the basis for all of the produce that we consume.

Woodlands provide good conditions for a wide variety of flowering herbaceous and woody plants. With these flowers come the pollinators, attracted by the colors and scents. Bees are a classic example of a pollinator, but many other animals play a role in this process as well. Hummingbirds, lepidopterans (butterflies and moths), beetles, wasps, and some flies are all examples of pollinators. Many of these animals are able to see ultraviolet wavelengths, making flowers appear very different from the way we see them. Bright, obvious patterns are revealed under UV light that easily leads birds and insects directly to the center of the flower where the pollen and nectar are contained. Once they arrive, the pollinators get a sweet, energy packed treat and the plants get assistance with the reproductive process.

Unfortunately for the pollinator, pollen and nectar may not be all that they're taking away from the flower. Pollen mites may decide to climb on board as well! Now, a few pollen mites don't really cause any harm, but if too many of them gather on the pollinator, it can turn into a parasitic relationship. Small, flying insects like bees suffer the most. These mites can build up on the thorax around the base of the wings and make it difficult or even impossible to fly. Bees that are still able to fly expend more energy doing so because of the added weight. Solitary bees such as mason bees, which nest in tube shaped holes, might end up transferring the mites to their offspring. A single egg is deposited in the tube with a plug of pollen to see the developing larva through the winter. This small space containing egg and pollen is capped off with mud and the process is repeated until the tube is filled and the entrance is capped. If mites happen to be included with that pollen, they will start to multiply and feed, leaving little or no pollen for the larva. In some cases, there will be so many mites that the pollen is used up and the larva gets eaten too.

If we consider the relationship between the mason bee and the tree that it is nesting in, we can see that there is commensalism occurring as well. Mason bees can't make their own holes, so they will take advantage of any natural holes or crevices in wood to lay their eggs. They will also use holes made by other animals. In either case, the tree is not harmed or helped by the bees' presence, but the bees gain a safe place to start the next generation.