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What is symbiosis?
What are the different kinds of symbiosis?
 What are some examples of symbiosis?
Symbiosis
What it means:
Two organisms that live together
Temporarily or for a longer time
At least one of the organisms
benefits from the relationship
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
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 Relationships
Commensalismone species benefits
and the other is
neither harmed nor
helped
Ex. orchids on a tree
Epiphytes: 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 Relationships
Commensalismone species benefits
and the other is
neither harmed nor
helped
Ex. polar bears and
cyanobacteria
Symbiotic Relationships
Parasitismone species benefits (parasite) and
the other is harmed (host)
 Parasite-Host
relationship
Symbiotic Relationships
Parasitismparasite-host
Ex. lampreys,
leeches, fleas,
ticks,tapeworm
Symbiotic Relationships
Mutualismbeneficial to
both species
Ex. cleaning
birds and cleaner
shrimp
Symbiotic Relationships
Mutualismbeneficial to both species
Ex. lichen
In all symbiotic relationships one of the species
(organisms) is always benefitted from the
relationship, but what happens to the other
species (organism)?
Type of
relationship
Commensalism
Parasitism
Mutualism
Species
harmed
Species
benefits
Species
uneffected
Identify the Relationship
Explain how the cow and chicken
exhibit commensalism in this cartoon.
Acacia Plant & Ants
The 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
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?
mutualism
Boxer Crab & Anemones
This 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.
What symbiotic relationship is
this?
mutualism
Shark & Remora
commensalism
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.
What symbiotic relationship is
this?
Emperor Shrimp & Sea Cucumber
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.
What symbiotic relationship is
this?
commensalism
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.
mutualism
What symbiotic relationship is
this?
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
This alpheid shrimp (on
the 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
mutualism
What symbiotic relationship is
this?
Wrasse & Batfish
Can 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 its
mouth in search of food. The
batfish gets a bath and the
wrasse gets a meal.
What symbiotic relationship is
this?
mutualism
Hummingbird Moth & Flower
mutualism
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?