The relationship between elodea and snails has been the subject of science experiments in elementary schools for years. Their interaction is an example of a symbiotic relationship in an ecosystem
Elodea and Snails Overview
Elodea is a common plant used in aquariums because of the underwater beauty and its hardiness. Snails are often used in aquariums both to view and to help clean the tank of algae.
Symbiosis
The relationship between snails and elodea is symbiotic in that the snail eats algae and produces carbon dioxide. The elodea takes in the carbon dioxide and, through photosynthesis, creates oxygen, which the snail and every living thing in the tank uses to breathe.
Benefits
The process is both beneficial to the snail and elodea as well as every other living thing in the tank. The elodea feeds off the carbon dioxide given off by the snail, and the oxygen produced by the elodea helps the algae, which the snail eats.
References
About the Author
Brock Cooper attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill. He was a reporter for seven years with a daily in Illinois before branching out into marketing and media relations. He has experience in writing everything from press releases to features on a variety of subjects and forums. His work can be seen in NewsTribune newspaper, Chicago Parent magazine and several websites.
Photo Credits
snail 1 image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com