This blog was written by Catherine Sturrock, a Bushwise Professional Safari Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience.
Does anyone else have a mental image of a bird with a toothbrush giving a crocodile a squeaky-clean smile? I do, and it’s stuck with me since childhood. The best part is that this relationship exists! It’s called a symbiotic relationship.
There is something inherently satisfying about symbiosis. Organisms adapt to get what they
need out of a situation, with some of the most unassuming creatures displaying incredible
resourcefulness and becoming champions of their circumstance. Symbiosis is all about different species living closely together, often in ways that help at least one of them – sometimes both. There are three main types:
Mutualism: A win-win relationship where both benefit, like bees pollinating flowers.
Commensalism: One benefits, and the other isn’t bothered or harmed, like birds nesting in trees.
Parasitism: One thrives while the other is harmed, like ticks feeding on buffalo.
There are a myriad of fascinating instances of symbiosis in the bush, we witnessed one of
the most visible on our first outing: oxpeckers hitching a ride on a wildebeest. In this
instance, the transaction is clear: the oxpeckers gain a source of food, and the wildebeest are rid of bothersome ticks and flies. However, some of these relationships can be more complex than they first appear. The red-billed oxpecker’s Swahili name, askari wa kifaru – meaning "the rhino’s guard" – hints at a deeper role, and research suggests there’s good reason for this title.
It turns out oxpeckers might be more than just tick removers – they could help rhinos stay out of sight. Their alarm calls seem to warn these usually silent animals when something, or someone, is approaching. And the more oxpeckers around, the better the rhino’s chances of noticing. It’s a wild thought – these little birds acting as tiny guardians, helping to keep one of Africa’s most elusive creatures safe.
Moving away from mutualism, let's have a look at a great example of commensalism. There is a food association between the pale chanting goshawk and the honey badger. Honey badgers dig for the majority of their food, small mammals and reptiles, however, a portion of the prey escapes while the honey badger digs. Pale chanting goshawks have noticed this and will follow the honey badger and perch nearby while it digs, swooping down to catch its prey when the chance comes. This has increased the hunting success rate of the pale chanting goshawk – even though it was helped a bit!
In this case, neither the goshawk nor the honey badger is harmed or negatively affected by this relationship. The honey badger wouldn’t have necessarily caught the animals that escaped during the digging process, so it can rest easy that it’s not missing out on its dinner!
And now, parasitism. In Southern Africa, several birds practice what is known as brood parasitism. These include species such as honeyguides, cuckoos, whydahs, and indigo birds. Brood parasitism is the laying of eggs in another bird’s nest, which saves energy for the bird laying the eggs and allows for laying more eggs every season – no time is taken up by having to raise their chicks. Some of these bird species will even purposefully crack or puncture the eggs that are found in the nest to ensure that their chicks do not have to compete for resources and are raised successfully. If the brood parasite doesn’t crack the eggs, many times their chicks are larger than the host species' chicks, meaning that the odds of them being outcompeted or, unfortunately, even smothered in their nest is quite high.
While the idea of brood parasitism is alarming, it certainly gives us an appreciation for the complexity and ingenuity of different species. Seeing and understanding these relationships help us better understand the link between different species and how the decline of one species can lead to another, leading to loss of biodiversity. We might even go one step further and consider the impact that we have on the world and other species around us.
Ready to explore and learn more about the wonders of nature like Catherine? Learn more about Bushwise's courses and start your journey today!
