Natures wonders: barnacle cyanobacteria symbiosis (Introduction)

by dhw, Tuesday, December 06, 2016, 10:24 (2907 days ago) @ David Turell

QUOTE: Perching on the rock surface above the water line is advantageous because the barnacles are less likely to fall prey to crabs and other marine organisms. However, the rock can reach 50 °C during summer, meaning the barnacles would succumb to dehydration if they couldn’t nestle into the burrows made by the cyanobacteria.
Similarly, without the barnacles, it would be harder for the cyanobacteria to find food in the hostile environment, says Buckeridge. “It’s a match made in heaven.'”

David’s comment: Logically not a match made by heaven. Cyanobacteria are in the ocean as are mollusks. They naturally fell together for mutual benefit.

Delighted to read your comment. A fine example of cooperation, and if your God did not reach down from heaven, or did not plant instructions in the first cells, I would suggest that maybe the barnacles and the cyanobacteria worked this arrangement out for themselves. Rather intelligent of them, don’t you think?