Okwenza Ukubambisana Kubaluleke

“Ayikho into ephilayo engazimela yodwa—ngayinye ihlobene nezinye izinto eziphilayo ngandlela-thile.”—Incwadi ethi “Symbiosis—An Introduction to Biological Associations.”

“INSONGENSONGE YOKUPHILA”—yeka indlela efaneleka ngayo leyo nkulumo, ngoba ngempela ukuphila kuyinsongensonge yezinto eziphilayo ezihlobene nezixhomeke kwenye nenye! Abantu bayingxenye ebalulekile yaleyo nsongensonge. Ubufakazi balokhu yiwo kanye umzimba wakho. Njengoba lisebenza buthule emgudwini wakho wokugaya ukudla, ibutho lama-bacterium awusizo likusiza ukuba uhlale uphilile ngokubulala abahlaseli abayingozi nangokusiza ekugayeni ukudla nasekukhiqizeni amavithamini abalulekile. Kanti wena uwavuza ngokuwapha ukudla nendawo evikelekile, njengoba engaphakathi kuwe.

Kunokubambisana okufanayo phakathi kwezilwane, ikakhulukazi ezetshisayo njengezinkomo, izinyamazane nezimvu. Ingobo yazo yesisu esimagumbigumbi inesimiso esiwusizo sama-bacterium, isikhunta nezilwane ezincane ezingabonakali ngeso lenyama. Lapho zigaya ukudla, lezi zilwane ezincane zigaya i-cellulose, isakhi esimahhadla esitholakala ohlazeni, ibe izakhamzimba ezihlukahlukene. Ngisho nezinambuzane ezithile ezidla i-cellulose, kuhlanganise nezinkubabulongwe, amaphela, ama-silverfish, umuhlwa neminyovu, zigaya ukudla ngosizo lwama-bacterium.

Ukubambisana okunjalo kwezinto eziphilayo ezingafani kuthiwa i-symbiosis, igama elisho “ukuphilisana.”a Encwadini yakhe ethi Liaisons of Life, uTony Wakeford uthi: “Ukubambisana okunjalo kubalulekile ekwakhekeni kwazo zonke izimiso zezinto eziphilayo.” Ake ucabange kafushane ngenhlabathi, ngoba kulapho lapho kutholakala khona eziningi zezinto eziphilayo emhlabeni.

Inhlabathi—Isizinda Sezinto Eziphilayo!

IBhayibheli lithi inhlabathi inamandla. (Genesise 4:12) Lokhu kunengqondo, ngoba inhlabathi evundile ayiyona nje into engenakuphila. Iyindawo eyinkimbinkimbi izinto ezingamila kuyo, futhi inenqwaba yezinto eziphilayo. Ikhilogremu nje elilodwa lingaba nama-bacterium angaphezu kwezigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-500, izinhlobo zesikhunta eziyizinkulungwane eziyisigidi kanye nezilwanyana ezinamangqamuzana amaningi ezingaba yizigidi ezingu-500, kusukela ezinambuzaneni kuya emisundwini. Eziningi zalezi zinto ziyasebenzelana, zigaya izinto ezivela ezintweni eziphilayo—njengamaqabunga nendle yezilwane—kuyilapho zikhipha i-nitrogen, eziyiguqula ibe ukudla kwezimila. Ziguqula ne-carbon ziyenze isikhutha namanye amakhemikhali adingwa yizimila ukuze zikhiqize ukudla.

Izimila ezithela imidumba, njenge-alfalfa, i-clover, uphizi nosoya, ziyezwana nama-bacterium, ngoba ziwavumela ukuba “ahlasele” izimpande zazo. Kodwa esikhundleni sokulimaza lezi zimila, ama-bacterium enza izimpande zazo zibe namaqhuzwana. Ama-bacterium akhela lapho futhi akhule ngokuphindwe izikhathi ezingu-40, abe ama-bacteroid. Umsebenzi wawo uwukuguqula i-nitrogen ibe izithako ezisetshenziswa yilezi zimila. Ama-bacterium wona abe esethola ukudla kulezi zimila.

Isikhunta naso sinengxenye enkulu ekukhuleni kwezimila. Empeleni, cishe yonke imithi, izihlahlana notshani zisebenzelana nesikhunta ngasese, lé ngaphansi komhlaba. Isikhunta “sihlasela” izimpande, sisize izimila ukuba zikwazi ukumunca amanzi namaminerali abalulekile, njengokusansimbi, i-phosphorus, i-potassium ne-zinc. Kanti isikhunta, esingenakukwazi ukuzikhiqizela ukudla ngenxa yokuthi asinayo i-chlorophyll, sivuzwa ngokuthi simunce izakhi kulesi simila.

Isimila esixhomeke kakhulu esikhunteni ama-orchid. Endle, lobu buhlobo buqala ngembewu yama-orchid enjengezinhlayiya zothuli, edinga usizo ukuze ikwazi ukuqhuma. Isikhunta sisiza isimila esesikhule ngokwanele nangokuqinisa izimpande zaso ezibuthaka. UWakeford uthi isikhunta “sakha isimiso esikhulu nesinamandla sokuqoqa ukudla esiqinisekisa ukuthi ama-orchid ondliwa ngokwanele. Sona-ke singase sithole ingcosana yamavithamini nezithako ze-nitrogen kulesi simila. Nokho, kunemingcele ekutheni kungakanani i-orchid engakwenzela isikhunta. Lesi simila silawula isikhunta ngamakhemikhali angokwemvelo asibulalayo, uma sibonisa izimpawu zokufuna ukuphumela ngaphandle kwekhaya laso eliyizimpande, sifuna ukukhuphuka siyohlasela isiqu se-orchid.”

Izimila eziqhakazayo zona zibambisana ngendlela edlulela ngalé kwalokho okwenzeka ngaphansi kwenhlabathi; zisizana nangezinye izindlela ezisobala.

Ubuhlobo Obusiza Ekwandeni

Lapho inyosi ihlala embalini, iqala ubuhlobo bokubambisana nayo. Inyosi ithola umpe nempova kuyilapho imbali ithola impova evela kwezinye izimbali ezifana nayo. Lokhu kusiza izimila eziqhakazayo zikwazi ukwanda. Ngemva kokuthola impova, izimbali azibe zisakukhiqiza ukudla. Izinambuzane zazi ngani ukuthi sekuvaliwe “ethilomu”? Izimbali “zizitshela” ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene. Zingase ziphelelwe amakha, zibune, noma zishintshe ukuma noma umbala wazo—mhlawumbe zithi ukuphupha. Lokhu kungase kusidumaze, kodwa kuyisenzo esikhulu “somusa” ezinyosini ezizikhandlayo, ezingase ziqhubekele ezimileni ezisatholakala.

Eminyakeni yamuva nje, inani lezinambuzane ezithutha impova, ikakhulukazi izinyosi, liye lehla kakhulu ezindaweni ezithile. Lokhu kuyibika elibi, ngoba cishe amaphesenti angu-70 ezimila eziqhakazayo athembele ezinambuzaneni ukuze athole impova. Ngaphezu kwalokho, amaphesenti angu-30 okudla kwethu avela ezilimweni ezithola impova ngezinyosi.

Izintuthwane Engadini

Kunezintuthwane ezithile nazo ezibambisana nezimila. Njengoba zona zithola indawo yokuhlala nokudla, lezi zinambuzane zingase zilethe impova esimileni, zisakaze imbewu, zilethe izakhi noma zisivikele ezilwaneni ezidla uhlaza, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ezinye izinambuzane noma izilwane ezinkulu. Intuthwane ethile eyakhela ngaphakathi kwameva omunga ibulala ngisho nezintandela eziwusongo, ehlangana nazo lapho izulazula endaweni ezungeze lo muthi. Umunga wona ubonga le nkonzo yokunakekelwa ngokupha izintuthwane umpe oluconsisa amathe.

Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ezinye izintuthwane zikhetha “ukunakekela abantwana,” futhi umthwalo wazo uwukunakekela ama-aphid adla izitshalo akhiqiza uju lapho ethintwa ngezimponjwana zezinzwa zezintuthwane. Lapho ikhuluma ngama-aphid, incwadi ethi Symbiosis ithi: “Izintuthwane zinakekela lezi zinambuzane njengokungathi yizinkomo, futhi ziyazisenga ukuze zithole ukudla futhi zizivikele kubahlaseli.” Njengoba nje umfuyi engase avalele izinkomo zakhe esibayeni ebusuku, izintuthwane zithwala ama-aphid ziwayise esidulini kusihlwa zibuye ziwabuyisele “emadlelweni” ekuseni, ngokuvamile okungamaqabunga asathambile anomsoco. Futhi lapha asikhulumi ngama-aphid ambalwa nje. Izintuthwane zingase zibe “nemihlambi” efinyelela ezinkulungwaneni esidulini esisodwa!

Lapho zisengamaqhamuza, izinhlobo ezithile zezimvemvane nazo zinakekelwa yizintuthwane. Ngokwesibonelo, uvemvane olukhulu oluluhlaza lubambisana namatsheketshe. Empeleni, alunakuwuqeda umjikelezo walo wokuphila ngaphandle kosizo lwawo. Lapho luseyiqhamuza, luklomelisa amatsheketshe ngoketshezi olunoshukela. Kamuva, lapho uvemvane luphuma egobolondweni, lushiya isiduli samatsheketshe siphephile futhi singenamonakalo.

Ukuphila Ethunzini Lokufa

Ukube ubuyinyoni, ubungayingenisa yini inyoka ephilayo esidlekeni sakho? Ungase uthi: “Phinde!” Kodwa kunohlobo lwenyoni olwenza lokho kanye—isikhova okuthiwa i-screech. Leyo nyoka kuthiwa i-blind snake. Esikhundleni sokulimaza amaphuphu, le nyoka idla izintuthwane, izimpukane nezinye izinambuzane neziphungumangathi zazo. Ngokombiko kamagazini i-New Scientist, amaphuphu akhula ne-blind snake “akhula ngokushesha futhi asethubeni elingcono lokusinda” kunalawo akhula lapho le nyoka ecocayo ingekho.

Inyoni okuthiwa i-water thick-knee, noma i-water dikkop, ayizihlanganisi nenyoka; ithanda ukwakha isidleke sayo eduze kombundu wengwenya—isilwane esidla izinhlobo ezithile zezinyoni! Nokho, esikhundleni sokuba ibe ukudla, i-water thick-knee iba umlindi. Uma kusondela ingozi esidlekeni sayo noma sengwenya, le nyoni ihlaba umkhosi. Uma ingwenya ingekho, lokhu kuyenza ibuyele ekhaya impampa.

Ukuchotshwa Nokuhlanzwa

Wake wazibona izinyoni ezinjengamalanda noma amahlalanyathi zisemhlane wezinyamazane, izinkomo, izindlulamithi, noma izinyathi, zingcofa isikhumba sazo? Esikhundleni sokuba isidina, lezi zinyoni empeleni zenzela lezi zilwane umusa omkhulu ngokudla izintwala, amakhizane nezinye izinambuzane lezi zilwane ezingenakukwazi ukuzisusa ngokwazo. Zidla nezicubu ezibolile kanye nezimpethu. Amalanda aze enze nomsinjwana othile ukuze axwayise lezi zilwane ngengozi esondelayo.

Ngenxa yokuthi imvubu ihlala kakhulu emanzini, ichotshwa futhi ilungiswe “abangane” bayo abayizinyoni nabayizinhlanzi. Lapho imvubu isemanzini, izinhlanzi okuthiwa ama-black labeo, eziwuhlobo lwe-carp, “zishanela” ulwembu, isikhumba esomile nezilwanyana eziwuhlupho—cishe noma yini enamathele kulesi silwane. Zize zihlanze ngisho namazinyo nezinsini zaso! Nezinye izinhlobo zezinhlanzi ziyasiza—ezinye ngokugeza amanxeba, kanti ezinye ngokusebenzisa ikhala lazo elide ukuze zihlanze imvubu phakathi kwezinzwani nezinye izindawo okungafinyeleleki kalula kuzo.

Izinhlanzi nazo ziyakhanga kwezinye izinto, ngenxa yalokho kufanele zisuswe izinto ezinamathela kuzo ngokungadingekile, njengezilwane ezinamagobolondo, ama-bacterium avela ngaphandle, isikhunta nezimfanzi, kanye nezicubu ezilimele noma ezinezifo. Ukuze kwenziwe kanjalo, ngokuvamile izinhlanzi zasolwandle zilibangisa ezindaweni ezihlanzwa kuzo. Lapho, ama-goby anombala ogqamile, ama-wrasse nezimfanzi ezicocayo ziyazihlanzisisa, zibe zithola ukudla ngomsebenzi wazo. Izinhlanzi ezinkulu zingase zinakekelwe ngisho nayiqembu labahlanzi!

Izinhlanzi ezidinga ukunakekelwa zinezindlela ezihlukahlukene zokubonisa ukuthi zifuna ukuhlanzwa. Ngokwesibonelo, ezinye zima ngendlela engavamile—zibhekise ikhanda phansi, isisila sibheke phezulu. Noma zingase zivule umlomo nezimbobo zokuphefumula, njengokungathi zithi: “Ngena. Ngeke ngikulume.” Abahlanzi bavumela phezulu, ngisho nalapho inhlanzi ecela usizo isabeka njengombokwane noma ushaka. Njengoba zihlanzwa, ezinye zalezi zinhlanzi zishintsha umbala, mhlawumbe ukuze ukungcola kubonakale kahle. Ezindaweni okugcinwa kuzo izinhlanzi lapho kungekho zinhlanzi ezihlanzayo, izinhlanzi zasolwandle “zihlaselwa yizilwanyana eziwuhlupho bese ziqala ukugula,” kusho incwadi i-Animal Partnerships. “Kodwa lapho nje kufakwa inhlanzi ehlanzayo kulezi zindawo, iqala umsebenzi ngaso leso sikhathi, bese ezinye izinhlanzi zima emgqeni ukuze zihlanzwe, njengokungathi ziyazi ukuthi kuqhubekani.”

Lapho siqhubeka sifunda okwengeziwe, sikhexa umlomo ngobunye nokusizana kwezinto eziphilayo zemvelo esizungezile. Njengeqembu labaculi, zonke izinto eziphilayo zinendima yazo, zenza ukuphila kube khona futhi kujabulise—ngisho nokuphila kwabantu. Ngokuqinisekile, lokhu kuwubufakazi bokuthi lezi zinto zaklanywa ngokuhlakanipha uMklami Ophakeme!—Genesise 1:31; IsAmbulo 4:11.

Okuwukuphela Kwembangela Yesiyaluyalu

Kuyadabukisa ngempela ukuthi abantu bavame ukungabambisani nemvelo. Ngokungafani nezilwane, ezilawulwa ngokuyinhloko umuzwa ongokwemvelo, abantu bathonywa yizici ezihlukahlukene, kusukela othandweni nezinye izimfanelo ezinhle kuya enzondweni nobugovu.

Ngenxa yokuthi abantu babonakala bebuswa kakhulu yinzondo nobugovu, abaningi bakhathazekile ngekusasa leplanethi yethu. (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Kodwa abamnaki uMdali. Ukufezeka kwenjongo kaNkulunkulu ngomhlaba ngeke nje kugcine ngokwenza imvelo ilingane kodwa kuyoletha nobunye obungakaze bube khona phakathi kwazo zonke izinto ezidaliwe, kuhlanganise nabantu.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Isimila Esimbaxa-mbili

Lawo maqhubu alukhuni, ampunga noma aluhlaza ovame ukuwabona emadwaleni naseziqwini zemithi kungenzeka ulele. Imithombo ethile ithi kungenzeka kunezinhlobo zalo ezingaba ngu-20 000! Ulele lungase lubonakale luyinto eyodwa, kodwa empeleni luyinhlanganisela yesikhunta nobulembu. Yini ehlanganisa lezi zinhlobo ezimbili zezinto eziphilayo? Isikhunta asikwazi ukuzenzela ukudla. Ngakho sisebenzisa imicu engabonakali ngeso lenyama ukuze sibambe ubulembu, obusebenzisa i-photosynthesis ukuze bukhiqize ushukela. Omunye walo shukela uphuma ngemifantu yobulembu, umuncwe isikhunta. Ubulembu bona buthola umswakama esikhunteni futhi buvikeleke naselangeni.

Ekhuluma ngalokhu ekwenza ihlaya, usosayensi othile wafingqa ulele ngokuluchaza ngokuthi “isikhunta esikwazi ukuzitshalela ukudla.” Futhi lunekhono lwalokho, ngoba incwadi ethi Liaisons of Life ithi ulele “lumboza ubuso bomhlaba ngokuphindwe kayishumi kunamahlathi emvula.” Lutholakala kusukela e-Arctic kuze kuyofika e-Antarctic futhi lutholakala ngisho nasemihlane yezinambuzane!

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 8]

Amakhorali—Isimangaliso Sokubambisana

Izixhobo zamakhorali zakhiwa izimbambela (polyp) kanye nobulembu. Njengoba butholakala kuwo wonke amangqamuzana embambela, ubulembu benza amakhorali abe nombala ogqamile. Futhi ngokuvamile buba nesisindo esingaphezu kwesezimbambela, ngezinye izikhathi ngokuphindwe kathathu, okwenza amakhorali ngokwengxenye enkulu abe yisimila kunokuba isilwane! Nokho, umsebenzi oyinhloko walobu bulembu uwukukhiqiza izithako zamakhemikhali awukudla, bese buthatha amaphesenti angu-98 azo buwanike izimbambela “njengentela.” Izimbambela azikudingi lokhu kudla ukuze ziphile nje kuphela, kodwa ukuze zakhe nezinhlaka zegwadle okwakheka kuzo izixhobo.

Ubulembu buzuza ngezindlela okungenani ezimbili ngalokhu kubambisana. Okokuqala, buthola ukudla okuvela ezimbambeleni—isikhutha, izithako ze-nitrogen nezinhlobo zikasawoti. Okwesibili, buthola isivikelo ngaphansi kohlaka oluqinile. Ubulembu budinga nelanga; yingakho izixhobo zamakhorali zikhula emanzini acwebile athola nokukhanya kwelanga okuningi.

Lapho amakhorali eba sebunzimeni, njengalapho izinga lokushisa kwamanzi lenyuka, izimbambela ziyabuxosha ubulembu bese ziqala ukuphupha. Zingase zibulawe nawukuswela ukudla. Eminyakeni yamuva nje, ososayensi baye baphawula ukwanda okukhulu kwamakhorali aphuphayo emhlabeni wonke.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 8, 9]

Isifundo Sokubambisana

Izindiza ezimbili zandiza emkhathini njengezinyoni ezihambisanayo. Kodwa zazindiza ngendlela engavamile; kwakuwucwaningo lwesayensi olusekelwe ekuhlolweni kwemikhuba yamavuba. Abacwaningi babethole ukuthi amavuba andiza njengomhlambi andizela phezulu nakakhulu ngenxa yalawo andiza phambili, okwehlisa izinga lokushaya kwenhliziyo ngamaphesenti angu-15 uma kuqhathaniswa nalapho lindiza ngalinye. Ingabe izindiza zazingazuza esimisweni esifanayo sokunciphisa umoya lapho zindiza?

Ukuze bathole iqiniso, onjiniyela bafaka umshini oyinkimbinkimbi endizeni, osiza umshayeli wayo ukuba ayisondeze ngamasentimitha angu-30 ebangeni elithile ngemva kwendiza ephambili, eyayiqhele ngamamitha angu-90. (Bheka isithombe.) Waba yini umphumela? Umoya onciphisa isivinini wancipha ngamaphesenti angu-20 kunokuvamile futhi uphethiloli owadliwa yindiza wancipha ngamaphesenti angu-18. Abacwaningi bakholelwa ukuthi le miphumela ingase isetshenziswe kokubili ezindizeni zempi nasezindizeni ezithwala abantu.

[Umthombo]

Jets: NASA Dryden Flight Research Center; birds: © Joyce Gross

[Izithombe ekhasini 5]

Engotsheni yesisu sayo, inkomo inesimiso esiwusizo sama-“bacterium,” isikhunta nezilwane ezincane ezingabonakali ngeso lenyama (isithombe esiphakathi esikhulisiwe)

[Umthombo]

Inset: Melvin Yokoyama and Mario Cobos, Michigan State University

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Izinyosi zisiza izimila eziqhakazayo zikwazi ukwanda

[Isithombe ekhasini 8, 9]

Inkomo nelanda

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

Imfanzi ehlanza i-“anemone”

[Isithombe ekhasini 10]

Inhlanzi i-“butterfly” nenhlanzi encane ehlanzayo