SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS

What is symbiosis? What are the different kinds of symbiosis?

What are some examples of symbiosis?

What it means: Two organisms that live togetherTemporarily or for a longer timeAt least one of the organisms benefits from the relationship

Symbiosis

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SYMBIOSIS?

ParasitismMutualism Commensalism

both organisms benefit

one organism benefits

one organism benefits

one organism is unaffected

one organism is

harmed

Commensalism

Organism One Organism Two

Mutualism

Organism One Organism Two

Parasitism

Organism One Organism Two

Symbiotic RelationshipsCommensalism-

one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped

Ex. orchids on a treeEpiphytes: A plant, such as a tropical orchid or a bromeliad, that grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. Also called aerophyte, air plant.

Symbiotic RelationshipsCommensalism-

one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped

Ex. polar bears and cyanobacteria

Symbiotic RelationshipsParasitism- one species benefits (parasite)

and the other is harmed (host)

Parasite-Host relationship

Symbiotic RelationshipsParasitism- parasite-hostEx. lampreys, leeches, fleas,ticks,tapeworm

Symbiotic RelationshipsMutualism-

beneficial to both species

Ex. cleaning birds and

cleaner shrimp

Symbiotic RelationshipsMutualism-

beneficial to both species

Ex. lichen

Type of relationship

Species harmed

Species benefits

Species uneffected

CommensalismParasitism

Mutualism

In all symbiotic relationships one of the species (organisms) is always benefitted from the relationship, but what happens to the other species (organism)?

Identify the Relationship

Explain how the cow and chicken exhibit commensalism in this cartoon.

Acacia Plant & AntsThe ants lay eggs on acacia tree so they get a nice safe

place for their eggs. The acacia covers the infected area with brown flesh (called a gall.)

The plant has to use valuable resources to create the gall.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

parasitism

Anemone & Anemone Fish

mutualism

This fish lives its entire adult life among the tentacles of a bulb- tentacle sea

anemone. Anemone fish do not get stung by the anemone as would most other fish

so they get protection from predators. The fish often drop food scraps which

the anemones can eat.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

Boxer Crab & AnemonesThis Boxer Crab carries a pair of stinging anemones in its claws,

which it uses to defend itself from predators. The anemones get to

move around which increases their food supply.

mutualism

What symbiotic relationship is this?

The remora attaches itself to the shark and saves energy since it

doesn’t have to swim, and it gets to snack on the sharks kills. The shark

doesn’t get anything.

Shark & Remora

commensalism

What symbiotic relationship is this?

This tiny emperor shrimp is riding along on the back of a sea cucumber (a long worm-like starfish relative) while it crawls along a sandy bottom. The

shrimp gets to travel around under the protection of its much larger partner, and the sea cucumber doesn't seem to

mind.

Emperor Shrimp & Sea Cucumber

commensalism

What symbiotic relationship is this?

Moray Eel & Cleaner Fish

This moray eel has a small fish cleaning between its teeth. The eel gets a clean

mouth while the cleaner fish gets a nice meal.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism

Cattle & Cattle Egrets

As these cattle walk around eating grass they stir up lots of insects. The egrets hang around and get a

yummy meal of insects.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

commensalism

Clown Fish & Anemone

This clown fish swims in the anemone and gets protection, since

its predators will get stung. The anemone is unaffected.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

commensalism

Antelope & Ox Bird

This ox bird hangs out on the antelope and

gets a delicious meal of bugs living on the

antelope. The antelope gets rid of parasites.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism

Loa Loa Worm & Human

This worm infects the human blood stream and

gets a nice warm safe home there. The

human may go blind or have other complications

as a result.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

parasitism

Goby and Alpheid Shrimp

What symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism

This alpheid shrimp (onthe right) uses its strong claws

like a bulldozer to create a burrow in the sand. The shrimp is nearly blind. It relies upon its partner, the sharp-eyed goby, to

warn of danger. When a potential predator approaches, both animals disappear quickly

into the burrow

Wrasse & BatfishCan you see the two cleaner

wrasses are removing parasites from a

batfish? One of the wrasses has entered the gill slit of the

batfish, and may even enter itsmouth in search of food. The

batfish gets a bath and the wrasse gets a meal.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism

Hummingbird Moth & Flower

This hummingbird moth is drinking the nectar of a flower. The flower gets pollinated (the moth brings

pollen from other flowers) and the moth gets a tasty meal.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism