Good Buddies Arizona
Copy definitions from slide show.
symbiosis: __________________________________________________________
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mutualism: _________________________________________________________
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commensalism: _____________________________________________________
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parasitism: _________________________________________________________
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Identify the relationship of each of the organism pairs below as mutualism, commensalism or parasitism.
Animals
Digger Bee/ Palo
Verde
Gila Woodpecker/
Screech Owl
Mexican Long
Tongued Bat/ Palmer
Agave
Phainopepla/
Mistletoe
Cowbird/ Oriole
Relationship
Comments
The bee gathers nectar and pollen from the
Palo Verde flowers which she deposits in
her nest. The nectar provides food to the
young while it develops, and the tree is
pollinated while she is collecting nectar.
The Gila Woodpecker digs a hole in the
saguaro for a nest. The Screech Owl
inhabits the nest after abandoned by the
Gila Woodpecker.
The Mexican Long Tongued Bat pollinates
the Palmer Agave while it is eating the
nectar of the Agave.
The Phainopepla eats mistletoe berries.
Some of the berries get stuck on the feet
of the bird and are transported to another
tree.
The female cowbird deposits her eggs into
the Oriole’s nest. The Oriole’s then raise
the young cowbirds that are bigger than
young Orioles. This can weaken the young
Orioles.
Wood Rat/
Prickly Pear
Cactus Wren/ Cholla
Cactus
Hummingbird/Ocotillo
Saguaro Cactus/
Palo Verde Tree
Desert Tortoise/
Prickly Pear Fruit
Mistletoe/Mesquite
Javelina/Mesquite
Gila Woodpecker/
Saguaro Cactus
Broomrape/Bursage
Yucca plant/ Yucca
moth
The Prickly Pear provides a home and food
for the Wood Rat. The Wood Rat spreads
(disperses) the Prickly Pear’s seeds.
The Cactus Wren builds its nest between
the spines of the Cholla Cactus. The Cholla
provides a home for the Cactus Wren and
it’s young. The Cholla is neither helped nor
harmed.
While getting nectar from the Ocotillo a
flower, the hummingbird cross pollinates
the flowers.
The Palo Verde tree provides shade and
protection to the young Saguaro Cactus.
The Palo Verde tree is neither harmed nor
helped.
The Desert Tortoise eats the Prickly Pear
fruit and helps spread (disperse) the
Prickly Pear seeds.
The Mistletoe lives off of the food and
nutrients of the Mesquite tree. This
weakens the Mesquite tree.
The Mesquite beans germinate and grow
better after they have passed through the
digestive tract of the Javelina.
The Gila Woodpecker digs a hole in the
Saguaro Cactus for a nest. The Saguaro
develops a thick skin (boot) and is not
harmed by the hole.
The Broomrape takes its food, nutrients,
and water from the roots of the Bursage
which weakens the Bursage.
Yucca flowers are pollinated by Yucca
moths. The moths lay their eggs in the
flowers. When the eggs hatch, the young
moths eat some developing seeds.