simbiotik

Simbiotik is a term used to describe symbiotic relationships between different species that live in close association, forming biological interactions in which at least one participant benefits and the interaction persists over time. The concept is central to ecology and evolutionary biology and is discussed across scientific disciplines.

The word is a variant spelling used in some languages and contexts of biology where the concept corresponds to the English "symbiosis."

There are several types of simbiotik: mutualism, where both partners benefit; commensalism, where one benefits and the other is unaffected; and parasitism, where one benefits at the expense of the other. Some relationships exist on a continuum between categories and can shift over time or with environmental conditions.

Examples of simbiotik include lichens, formed by a fungus and a photosynthetic partner (usually an alga or cyanobacterium); mycorrhizal associations between plant roots and fungi; the human gut microbiota, which influence digestion and immunity; coral-algae symbiosis involving reef-building corals and dinoflagellates; and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legume roots that supply usable nitrogen to the plant.

Simbiotik plays a key role in nutrient cycling, energy flow, and ecosystem structure. It shapes the evolution of participating organisms and has implications for health, agriculture, conservation, and resilience to environmental change. Researchers study simbiotik through field observations, controlled experiments, and molecular methods such as genomics and metagenomics, often using network analyses to understand complex interaction webs.

See also: symbiosis, mutualism, parasitism, microbiome, holobiont.