How might a symbiotic relationship be a disadvantage to an ecosystem!

Symbiotic relationship (parasitism) have adverse consequences on the ecosystem. Parasitism have extensive impact on host growth and reproduction.

Explanation:

First of all we have to understand what is symbiosis and the different type of symbiotic relationship.

Symbiosis is a close relationship between two species in which at least one specie benefits. There are four main types of symbiosis; mutualism, commendation, parasitism and competition.

- Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship which is beneficial to both species involved. Example of mutualism is the relationship between nitrigenous fixing bacteria and leguminous plants.

- Commensalism is an association between two organism in which one organism benefits while the other organism neither benefits nor is harmed. Example is the relationship between Remora fish and shark.

- Parastism is a symbiotic relationship between organisms in which one organism (parasite) benefits at the expense of the other organism (host) without killing the host organism.

- Competition is a relationship between organisms in which one is harmed when both are struggling for limited resources.

Symbiotic relationship (parasitism) have extreme consequences on the ecosystem in which they occur. Parasitism have extensive impact on host growth and reproduction, which will eventually lead to changes in competitive balances between the host and non host species, thereby affecting vegetation zonation, community structure and population dynamics.