A Burchell's zebra and a cattle egret at the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa
© Richard Du Toit/Minden Picture
We can all just get along. International Day for Biological Diversity
As this Burchell’s zebra grazes on the grass, it stirs up insects for this opportunistic cattle egret to eat. It’s a great example of commensalism, a relationship in which one species benefits without helping or hurting the other.
There are many other amazing examples of animals working together. The anemone’s tentacles protect crabs from predators and the crab's mobility helps the anemone move around. The Egyptian plover bird picks food from the Nile crocodile's teeth, and the crocs get a free clean!
All over the world, across forests, oceans and deserts, species help each other to thrive. And humans need healthy ecosystems for our water, food, medicine, energy and so much more. Today is the UN's International Day for Biological Diversity, promoting ecosystem-based approaches to cope with climate change, food and water security and more.
Related Images
White-tailed deer doe and newborn fawn, Montana
Wild lupine in purple and blue
The Yorkshire Dales, UK
Bavarian Forest wine cellar, Germany
Island fox in Channel Islands National Park, California
Meldon Hill, Dartmoor National Park, Devon
Randox National Festival, Liverpool, England, UK
Elephant family in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Today on Bing
Arenal Volcano seen from Monteverde, Costa Rica
Cube houses in Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Reichenbach Falls, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
