Symbiotic Relationships

SymbiosisSymbiosis

SymbiosisSymbiosis is a close ecological is a close ecological relationship between the individuals of two relationship between the individuals of two (or more) different species. (or more) different species.

CommensalismCommensalism

Commensalism is a relationship between Commensalism is a relationship between two living organisms where one benefits two living organisms where one benefits and the other is neither harmed nor and the other is neither harmed nor helped. helped.

Some birds live among cattle to eat the Some birds live among cattle to eat the insects stirred up as they walk. One insects stirred up as they walk. One

example are egrets who hunt for example are egrets who hunt for insects near a grazing animal's mouth.insects near a grazing animal's mouth.

One animal attaching itself to another One animal attaching itself to another for transportation such as barnacles for transportation such as barnacles

attach to shells or whales or a shrimp attach to shells or whales or a shrimp riding on a sea slugs.riding on a sea slugs.

barnacles on whale’s tail and clam shrimp riding on a sea slug

One species uses a second One species uses a second organism for housing such as small organism for housing such as small mammals or birds that lives in holes mammals or birds that lives in holes in trees or orchids which live in trees.in trees or orchids which live in trees.

Orchid in rainforest Venezuela

ParasitismParasitism

One organism, usually physically smaller of One organism, usually physically smaller of the two (the parasite) benefits and the the two (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmedother (the host) is harmed

Parasitism involves one organism living on Parasitism involves one organism living on or inside another organism and harming it. or inside another organism and harming it.

Ticks and fleas that live in a host Ticks and fleas that live in a host animal's fur bite the animal and animal's fur bite the animal and drink its blood are parasites. drink its blood are parasites.

Insects such as mosquitoes Insects such as mosquitoes feeding on a host are parasites. feeding on a host are parasites.

Vines such as Kudzu growing on TreesVines such as Kudzu growing on Trees    Kudzu is native to Japan and China, however it grows well in the Southeastern United States. Kudzu is a vine that when left uncontrolled will eventually grow over almost any fixed object in its proximity including other vegetation. Kudzu, over a period of several years will kill trees by blocking the sunlight .

Tomato Hornworm with Wasp Eggs Tomato Hornworm with Wasp Eggs

Tapeworm or Hookworms living in Tapeworm or Hookworms living in Host's Gut Host's Gut

The roots of the Owl Clover are The roots of the Owl Clover are partly parasitic on the roots of other partly parasitic on the roots of other

desert wildflowers. desert wildflowers.

MutualismMutualism

Both species benefit from the interaction.Both species benefit from the interaction.

Clownfish & Sea AnemoneClownfish & Sea Anemone

The clownfish gets food The clownfish gets food scraps from the anemone scraps from the anemone and uses the stinging cells and uses the stinging cells of the anemone for of the anemone for protection. protection.

The anemone gets algal The anemone gets algal cover cleaned off by the cover cleaned off by the clownfish and absorbs clownfish and absorbs nutrients from the clown nutrients from the clown fish’s waste.fish’s waste.

Flowers and their Pollinators Flowers and their Pollinators (examples:  Bees and (examples:  Bees and

hummingbirds gather nectar and hummingbirds gather nectar and spread pollen.) spread pollen.)

Birds and mammals eat berries and Birds and mammals eat berries and fruits while the plant benefits by the fruits while the plant benefits by the

dispersal of it seeds.dispersal of it seeds.

Algae and Fungi > Lichen - Alga Algae and Fungi > Lichen - Alga gets water and nutrients from the gets water and nutrients from the fungus and the fungus gets food fungus and the fungus gets food

from the algae.from the algae.

Cleaners eat insect pests from the skin Cleaners eat insect pests from the skin of animals. (ex: Egyptian plover cleans of animals. (ex: Egyptian plover cleans

giraffes and buffaloes) giraffes and buffaloes)

Many herbivores such as cows, sheep, Many herbivores such as cows, sheep, deer, horses and rabbits depend on deer, horses and rabbits depend on bacteria that live in their stomachs to bacteria that live in their stomachs to

break down the plant material.break down the plant material.

Coral Reefs- The corals get food Coral Reefs- The corals get food and the algae get protection.and the algae get protection.

PredationPredation

One organism eats another (Carnivores eats One organism eats another (Carnivores eats animals.) animals.)

One organism hunts and kills another for One organism hunts and kills another for food.food.

Symbiotic RelationshipsSymbiotic Relationships

1. Commensalism1. Commensalism - one species benefits, - one species benefits, the other is unaffectedthe other is unaffected

2.2. ParasitismParasitism - one species benefits, the - one species benefits, the other is harmedother is harmed

3. Mutualism3. Mutualism - both species benefit - both species benefit

4.4. Predation - Predation - one organism eats another one organism eats another

5. Competition5. Competition – two organisms compete – two organisms compete for the same resourcesfor the same resources