Relationships in Nature
What is symbiosis?
Two organisms that live together
•Temporarily or for a longer time
•At least one of the organisms
benefits from the relationship
What are the different
kinds of symbiosis?
Mutualism
both
organisms
benefit
Commensalism
one organism
benefits
one organism
is unaffected
Parasitism
one organism
benefits
one organism
is harmed
Parasitism
• Causes harm to
host
• The parasite
benefits, the host
is harmed or in
some cases killed.
Zombie Caterpillars -Slave
Bodyguard
•
•
Glyptapanteles is a wasp that lays
its eggs in the body of a caterpillar.
This is a three layered parasitic
infection.
– The wasps disable the caterpillar’s
immune system, allowing the wasp
eggs to survive.
– The eggs hatch and feed on the
caterpillar, but do not kill it. Instead,
the caterpillar stops developing and
spends the rest of its life protecting
the wasp larva, even going as far as
spinning its own cocoon around the
wasp pupae.
– When the adult wasp emerges from
its cocoon, the zombie caterpillar
finally tastes the sweet release of
death.
Commensalism
• Only one member benefits
– sharing space, defense, shelter, food
• Neither will die if relationship is ended
– Shrimp & sea cucumber
The Shrimp hitch a ride on the large sea
cucumbers. The shrimps get transported
through a large area of potential food by
their host with only a minimal
expenditure of energy on their part. They
can be observed getting off their host
cucumber to feed in productive areas,
and back on for a ride to the next spot!
http://www.msstarship.com/science
new/symbiosis.htm
Cattle with cattle egrets
Cattle stir up insects
as they eat grass
Egrets hang around
and eat insects
Commensalism: one benefits,
one is unaffected
Clown fish with anemone
Clown fish gets
protection
Anemone is
unaffected
Commensalism: one
benefits, one is unaffected
Cactus Wren & Cholla Cactus
• Cactus wren
– builds its nest in a
cholla cactus to
protect its young
from predators such
as raven. There is
no harm to the
cactus.
Mutualism
• Both organisms derive mutual benefit
• Neither can survive without the other
• Tickbirds and rhinos
Buffalo & Oxpecker
• Buffalo
– Lets the bird eat
• Oxpecker
– Eats ticks and other parasites off skin
– Warns buffalo of danger
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/enemies/partners.html
Honey Bee & the Dandelion
• Honey bee
– gets to eat the
pollen from the
flower.
• Dandelion
– uses the bee to
spread its pollen to
another flower
Shark and Remora Fish
• Shark
– Lets the fish eat
• Remora Fish
– Eats parasites
– Gets the shark’s
leftovers
Hermit Crab & Sea Anemone
• Hermit crab
– protects the crab
• Sea anemone
– Gets leftover food
http://www.ms-starship.com/sciencenew/symbiosis.htm
Crocodile & Bird
• Nile crocodile
– Usually eats animals
– Allows bird to walk
around its mouth
• Crocodile bird
– Cleans parasites in
croc’s teeth
– Removes and eats
scraps of food
– Eats harmful leeches
and parasites
Moray Eel with
Cleaner Shrimp
Zebra Moray Eel gets a
clean mouth
Cleaner Shrimp gets a
meal
Mutualism:
both benefit
Antelope with Oxbird
Antelope gets rid
of parasites
Oxbird gets a
meal
Mutualism: both benefit