Wild Tobago

In The Last Dance, Venom, Eddie Brock’s symbiont makes the ultimate sacrifice for his host-partner.  That's how corals work. Dr Anjani Ganase, marine biologist, looks at of examples of ocean species cooperating for mutual benefit.   We get by with a little help from our friends. This is not just a song lyric but a rule of survival in the natural world. We are often amazed when animals (or plants) of different species form working partnerships or social interactions, but these relationships are common and referred to as a symbiosis. The long-term biological relationship between two or more species where at least one species benefits is an example of symbiosis.   When the partnership results in both partners benefiting, the type of symbiotic relationship is referred to as mutualism, when one benefits it’s called commensalism. Of course, there are scenarios where one partner is harmed in the process and that is called parasitism. Shallow reef with cl...

Relationships among marine species are not only about food. The health and survival of species also depend on “grooming” services from other species. In this feature, Dr Anjani Ganase looks at the functions of some coral reef inhabitants as cleaners for larger species.  Divers often come across peculiar interactions between large fish or marine animals and smaller fish – Gobies, Wrasses – or with crustaceans, such as shrimps and crabs. These are not the typical predator-prey relationships but amicable associations, where the small fish or crustaceans can be seen moving about the body of the large predator foraging for ectoparasites and picking at dead tissue. The fish (the client) keeps as still as possible to avoid disrupting the activities of the smaller fish; it might even orient its head upwards and open its mouth and gills to give the fish or shrimp easy access to its cavities. The smaller fish or shrimp do not appear apprehensive at all about entering the mouth and picki...

Anjani Ganase, marine scientist, proposes a different way of looking at the world. “To think big, we first need to see the small things,” she says, as she looks into the ocean. What is the most abundant group of organisms in the oceans, and why do they matter? When I first started my degree in Marine Biology, I - like many others – was excited to begin exploring the world of fish, crabs, critters, whales and even sharks. To my surprise, we had to begin with the smallest of things, the foundation of all ecosystems, understanding the microbial universe. Microscopic organisms, although we can’t see them, are crucial for life and are constantly providing us with all essentials nutrients and removing our waste, they are the cogs in the wheel of life. Microorganisms are invisible to the naked eye and typically constituted of single-celled entities. Furthermore microorganisms are everywhere, yes everywhere! They can be found in deep scalding undersea volcanic vents and even on the s...