What is non-symbiotic association?

Question

What is non-symbiotic association?

Answer 1

Symbiotic – organisms that live in close nutritional relationships required by one or both members.

mutualism – both members benefit

commensalism – one benefits while the other remains unaffected

parasitic – one benefits at the expense of the other.

http://www.cfcc.cc.fl.us/~thompsoa/micro...

Non-symbiotic – organisms that are free living, relationships not needed for survival.

Eg.Non-symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation

Biological nitrogen fixation also occurs through non-symbiotic bacteria growing on roots and in degrading litter; blue-green algae or cyanobacteria on soil and plant surfaces; and associations of cyanobacteria with fungi and lichens, or with higher plants such as liverworts, mosses, cycads and the angiosperm Gunnera. Most of the nitrogen in forest ecosystems is derived from biological nitrogen fixation. These systems are very efficient in recycling nitrogen leached to lower depths in the soil through uptake by deep roots, and through leaf fall, concentrating this nitrogen in the litter and upper soil horizons.

http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Publi...