CVA Environmental Science
Module 3
E3.02.1 Species Interactions Field Investigation
Symbiosis is a relationship between two or more organisms that live closely together. There
are several types or classes of symbiosis:
 Commensalism: One organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.
 Mutualism: Both organisms benefit. An obligate mutualist cannot survive without its
partner; a facultative mutualist can survive on its own.
 Parasitism: One organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.
Source: Learn Genetics (learn.genetics.utah.edu)
1. Take your cell phone and a notepad outside to your backyard,
neighborhood, or park.
• *IF you do not have a cell phone you can search the internet for
images to complete the assignment!
Example: Organism A: Hummingbird
Organism B: Flower
Interaction: Mutualism
Explanation: Hummingbird pollinates flower;
Flower nourishes hummingbird.
Lion & Gazelle = not acceptable example because this is
a predator prey relationship.
2. Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit down and remain quiet and still for at
least 30 minutes. Carefully watch for examples of species interactions
among the animals and insects around you.
3. Write down all of your observations. What organisms are involved in the
interaction?
4. Take a picture of the interaction you observe and insert in the last column
of the data sheet below. If you cannot get a picture of the interaction, find
a picture online that best show the interaction you observed.
5. Five of the 10 interactions must come from your personal observations
while in your neighborhood, park or yard. The other 5 can come from
examples that may not be in your backyard but you know exist in the
world.
Ex. Organism A Organism B Type of Interaction Explain the interaction. Picture Evidence
#1 Human
Commensalism,
Tree
Mutualism
The tree releases oxygen as
Mutualism or
a waste product of
Parasitism
photosynthesis which is
useful to humans, and
humans breath out C02
which plants use for
photosynthesis.
CVA Environmental Science
Module 3
E3.02.1 Species Interactions Field Investigation
2
Bird
Tree
commensalism
3
Ants
Grass
Parasitism
4
Plant
Sun
Commensalism
5
Weed
Plant
Parasitism
6
Bee
Flower
Mutualism
7
Picabueyes
Rhinos
Mutualism
8
Mosquito
Human
Parasitism
9
Golden Jackals Tigers
10 Clownfish
Sea anemone
Commensalism
Mutualism
The bird uses the tree as
shelter, not impacting the
tree in any way.
The ants create ant hills by
burrowing in, which kills
the grass in the area.
The plant uses the sunlight
to conduct photosynthesis,
the sun is not affected
The weed grows through
the plant and takes away its
nutrients.
The bees get food in the
nectar and spread the
flowers seed by pollinating.
The picabuey gets to eat
the insects and parasites on
the rhino and the rhino
benefits from their
absence.
The mosquito feeds off the
nutrients in the blood of
humans which hurts
humans and can lead to
diseases.
The jackal gets to feed off
the remains of the tigers
kills, not affecting the tiger.
Clownfish keep sea
anemone clean by eating
dead tentacles and algae.
that settle on the sea
anemone. In this way both
benefit
Module 3
E3.02.1 Species Interactions Field Investigation
CVA Environmental Science
Module 3
E3.02.1 Species Interactions Field Investigation
Species Interaction Investigation
In this investigation numerous different interactions between these organisms have been observed. Some have
been mutualistic such as the clownfish and the sea anemone, while others have been a parasite type relationship like
the mosquito and the human. These relationships serve as the backbone of any ecosystem. We can see very critical
relationships to the structure of our environment such as the bee spreading the pollen of the flowers so that the flower
can reproduce. Additionally, the relationship between the tree and the sun is extremely important to the value of life on
Earth. By the sun providing the necessary light to the plants for them to perform photosynthesis, which provides the
plant energy and the organisms that eat the plant energy. In conclusion, these relationships are important to the
sustainability of a successful environment and this investigation highlights how invaluable these relationships are even
on the smallest of levels.