Table 1 Some coevolved interactions that have been crucial to the diversification of the web of life
Example | Taxon 1 | Taxon 2 | Ecological implications |
|---|---|---|---|
Survival and growth | |||
 Mitochondria | Eukaryotes | Bacteria | Cellular energy |
 Chloroplasts | Eukaryotes | Cyanobacteria | Photosynthesis |
 Marine reefs | Corals | Dinoflagellates | Photosynthesis |
 Lichens | Fungi | Green algae/cyanobacteria | Nutrition |
 Fungi | Plants | Mycorrhizae | Plant nutrition |
 Rhizobia | Plants | Bacteria | Nitrogen fixation in soil |
 Gut symbionts | Animals | Bacteria | Digestion in animals |
 Gut symbionts | Termites | Protozoa, bacteria | Ability to digest cellulose |
 Fungus gardens | Ants | Fungi | Agriculture by ants |
 Chemosymbiosis | Bacteria | Invertebrates | Colonization of deep sea vents |
 Competition | Many taxa | Many taxa | Ecological diversification |
Reproduction | |||
 Pollination | Plants | Animals | Sexual reproduction in plants |
 Seed dispersal | Plants | Animals | Sexual reproduction in plants |
 Parasitism | Hosts | Parasites | Selection for sexual reproduction |