Aposymbiotic

Aposymbiosis occurs when symbiotic organisms live apart from one another (for example, a clownfish living independently of an anemone). Studies have shown that the lifecycles of both the host and the symbiote are affected in some way, usually negative, and that for obligate symbiosis the effects can be drastic. Aposymbiosis is distinct from exsymbiosis, which occurs when organisms are recently separated from a symbiotic association.

See also

• Ecology portal