There are three main types of symbiotic interactions: mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
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Mutualism: Both species involved in the interaction benefit from each other. An example is the relationship between bees and flowers, where bees obtain nectar for food while aiding in pollination for the flowers.
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Commensalism: One species benefits from the interaction while the other is neither harmed nor helped. An example is barnacles attaching themselves to whales to hitch a ride and feed on food particles stirred up by the whale's movements.
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Parasitism: One species (the parasite) benefits at the expense of the other species (the host). Parasites can harm or even kill their hosts. Examples include ticks feeding on the blood of mammals and tapeworms living in the intestines of their hosts.
