Name: ____________________________
Date: _____________________
Period: ______
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE: SYMBIOSIS
Match each of the vocabulary words to its definition on the right.
_____ mutualism
a. one species helps itself by hurting another species
_____ parasitism
b. one species is helped by another without helping or hurting that species
_____ commensalism c. one species kills and eats another species
_____ predation
d. one species gets helped by another species while helping it in return
Decide which vocabulary word is being illustrated by the cartoons below:
Bacteria and Symbiosis
As we have learned, some bacteria are beneficial while others are harmful. Decide whether the
bacteria being described below are in a mutualistic or a parasitic relationship with their host.
1. Bacteria aid cows with digestion in return for nutrients of their own ____________________
2. Bacteria live in the human mouth gaining nutrition and causing cavities __________________
3. Bacteria gain nutrition while releasing toxins into the body ____________________________
4. Bacteria fix nitrogen for plants while gaining nutrition in return ________________________
5. Bacteria feed off an animal reducing the nutrition reaching host cells ___________________
Commensalism
Why is the image above of a hermit crab an example of commensalism? ___________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Do any of the commensalistic organisms harm their hosts? ______________________________
Do any of the commensalistic organisms help their hosts? ______________________________
Predators and Prey
Draw an arrow from the prey to the predator in each of the relationships shown below.
1. Lion
Gazelle
2. Fly
Spider
3. Fox
Rabbit
4. Lamb
Wolf
5. Human
Cow
6. Worm
Chicken
Write a definition of each of the vocabulary words in your own words.
Mutualism: ____________________________________________________________________
Parasitism: ____________________________________________________________________
Commensalism: ________________________________________________________________
Predation: _____________________________________________________________________
Decide whether the following relationships represent mutualism (M), commenalism (C),
parasitism (P) or predation (X).
______ A tree provides food and shelter for an ant that protects the tree from invaders
______ A bee collects pollen from a flower and spreads its pollen in return
______ An armadillo digs out the roots of tree
______ Mites travel on the back of a dragonfly without affecting the dragonfly
______ A spider devours a cricket.
______ Bacteria grows inside of a cut causing an infection
______ Bacteria live inside the digestive track breaking down complex nutrients for the host
______ Moss grows on a tree without hurting or bringing aid to the tree.
______ Horned lizards eat ants as they travel out of their mound
______ A remora rides on a shark without bringing harm or aid to the shark
______ A dog is provided shelter by a human while protecting the human from burglars
______ Hermit crabs use the shell of a dead gastropod to protect themselves
______ A clownfish finds shelter in a sea anemone while chasing away predators of the anemone
______ Female lions attack and kill a gazelle to obtain food for the pride
______ A tapeworm grows inside of a dog’s digestive tract causing the dog to become sick
______ A bird builds a nest in a tree without affecting the tree
______ Hummingbirds pollinate a flower while collecting its nectar
______ Epiphytes grow on a tree to help themselves without bringing harm to the tree
______ Bacteria live inside the intestines of termites and help them break down cellulose
______ A coyote kills a chicken and eats it to gain nutrition
______ Mosquitoes draw blood from a host to acquire nutrients and energy
______ Vultures eat the remains of an animal killed and left by a pack of lions
______ Mountain lions kill and devour a cow
Match each of the vocabulary words to its definition on the right.
_____ mutualism
a. one species is helped by another without helping or hurting that species
_____ parasitism
b. one species kills and eats another species
_____ commensalism c. one species gets helped by another species while helping it in return
_____ predation
d. one species helps itself by hurting another species
Decide which vocabulary word is being illustrated by the cartoons below:
Predators and Prey
Draw an arrow from the prey to the predator in each of the relationships shown below.
1. Cougar
Deer
2. Rat
Snake
3. Cat
Mouse
4. Fish
Bear
5. Chicken
Human
6. Insect
Bat
Decide whether the following relationships represent mutualism (M), commenalism (C),
parasitism (P) or predation (X).
______ Orchids live on a tree without affecting the tree
______ A wasp kill a spider and lays its eggs inside it
______ Bacteria grow inside the intestines of a cow and help it digest cellulose
______ Bacteria live in the roots of plants and help them convert nitrogen
______ Insects collect pollen and spread the pollen to other flowers in return
______ Tapeworms absorb nutrients from their host depleting the available nutrient supply
______ Sharks eat fish in a marine food chain
______ Small insects ride on the backs of dragonfly
______ Ants find shelter in a tree while giving the tree protection from herbivorous insects
______ Birds make a nest in a tree
______ Whales eat huge amounts of microscopic plankton
______ Insects live in the nest of a bird without affecting the bird
______ Humans provide cows with food and shelter in return for its milk
______ A bear eats a deer in the wilderness
______ A plant provides an elephant with fruit and the elephant spreads the plants seeds
______ A flea bites a dog to gain nutrition from the mammal
1. Which situation best represents a
mutualistic relationship?
A A tapeworm absorbing nutrients from the
intestine of a dog
B An orchid being pollinated by a nectar
collecting wasp
C A human losing blood to a feeding
mosquito
D An armadillo rooting in the soil at the base
of an oak tree
2. Which of these best describes the
relationship between epiphytes and trees?
F Parasitism
G Migration
H Commensalism
J Predation
3. A hummingbird feeds on the nectar of a
flowering plant. In this process the bird
gains nutrition while spreading the plant’s
pollen to other flowers. The relationship
between hummingbirds and flowering
plants can be described as —
F commensal
G predatory
H parasitic
J mutualistic
4. A tick feeding on the blood of a dog is an
example of —
A
B
C
D
commensalism
parasitism
neutralism
mutualism
5. Beechdrops (Epifagus virginiana) are
leafless plants that lack chlorophyll.
Beechdrops get their nourishment from the
roots of beech trees, which reduces the
amount of nutrients available to the trees
themselves. This interaction is best described
as —
A
B
C
D
predatory
parasitic
commensalistic
mutualistic
6. Which of these is the best example of a
mutualistic relationship in an aquatic
environment?
F Some fish can survive repeated infections by
harmful bacteria.
G Some fish have bacteria living in their
digestive tract that help the fish digest food.
H Some bacteria are present in aquatic food
chains in which fish are secondary consumers.
J Some bacteria are aquatic decomposers that
recycle nutrients useful to fish.
7. An oakworm caterpillar feeds on the
leaves of an oak tree. This type of
interaction is —
F mutualistic
G commensalistic
H competitive
J parasitic
8. This relationship is an example of —
A predation
B parasitism
C mutualism
D commensalism
9. Which of the following is an example of
mutualism?
A A wasp injects its eggs inside the body of a
caterpillar. The eggs hatch and eat the
caterpillar.
B A bird builds a nest in a tree.
C A human uses a dog to protect a flock of
sheep. The dog is given food and shelter.
D A flower grows next to a bush.
11. Which word best describes the fungus
in the situation above?
A Predator
B Producer
C Parasite
D Decomposer
12. Which of these best represents a
mutualistic relationship?
A Bull snake/mouse
B White-tailed deer/grass
C Hummingbird/blossom
D Spadefoot toad/cricket
10. Clown fish are small reef fish that
seek protection from predators by
sheltering themselves among the
stinging tentacles of sea anemones.
Clown fish are very territorial and can
potentially scare off predators of sea
anemones. This relationship is an
example of —
A
B
C
D
neutralism
mutualism
parasitism
commensalism
13. According to the information in the
box, which of these best describes the
relationship between rhizobia and bean
plants?
F Parasitism
G Opportunism
H Commensalism
J Mutualism
17. Bacteria are present in the digestive tract
of some herbivores. The bacteria break
down plant cellulose, making it possible for
the herbivore to digest plant material. These
bacteria live in a stable environment with
sufficient food and water. The herbivore and
the bacteria in this relationship —
14. Which of these best describes the
relationship explained in the box above?
A
B
C
D
predation
parasitism
mutualism
commensalism
15. Within a certain community, crows
actively eat brightly colored beetles. Which
interaction is being displayed between the
population of crows and the population of
beetles?
A
B
C
D
predation
parasitism
mutualism
commensalism
16. Pollen adheres to bees as they feed on
the nectar of flowers. When they move from
flower to flower gathering nectar, the bees
pollinate the flowers. The bees then use the
nectar to make honey. The relationship
between bees and flowers is an example of
—
A
B
C
D
neutralism
mutualism
parasitism
commensalism
A benefit each other
B are producers
C compete for survival
D are secondary consumers
18. After being introduced in the 1930s, the
B fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) became
established throughout much of the
southern United States. One biological way
to control fire ants might be to introduce
organisms that are —
A mutualistic with fire ant queens
B preyed on by fire ant drones
C nurtured by fire ant workers
D parasitic to fire ant larvae