Symbiosis Lesson

Symbiosis Lesson

by Sarah Reid

• Individual - a single organism

• Population- individuals of the same species that live in the same place

• Community- multiple populations of different species that live in the same place

• Ecosystem- communities of living organisms and the nonliving parts of their environment

​

Symbiotic Relationships happen within an ecosystem...

​Symbiotic Relationships

• ​If we break down the word 'symbiosis' into its parts:

  • ​'Sym' means together

  • ​'Bio' means life

• ​So....

• ​Symbiotic Relationships are relationships or interactions between two species that last over a period of time- also known at symbiosis

​Types of Relationships

• ​3 Main Types of Symbiotic Relationships:

• ​Parasitism

• ​Commensalism

• ​Mutualism

​

​Other Types of Relationships:

• Competition

• Predation​

• ​Cooperation

​Each type of relationship can be described with the following symbols:

​+ = positive 😊

​- = negative ☹️

​Ø = no effect 😐

​Parasitism

• ​One organism benefits (the parasite), while the other organism is harmed (the host)

• ​in some situations the parasite can lead to the death of the host

• ​the parasite can NOT normally live without the host

• ​Symbols: (+, -) (😊, ☹️)

• ​Examples: ticks on a host, isopods on fish

Commensalism

• ​One organism benefits, while the other organism is not affected (it is not harmed or benefited)

• ​Symbols: (+, Ø) (😊, 😐)

• ​Examples:

  • ​Barnacles on skin of a whale

  • ​Tree frogs use plants as protection

Mutualism

• ​Both organisms benefit from their interactions with each other

• ​Symbols: (+, +) (😊, 😊)

• ​Examples:

  • ​A bee getting nectar from a flower and pollinating it

  • ​Sea anemone and clown fish

Competition

• ​Organisms compete for needed resources

  • ​Shelter

  • ​Food

  • ​Mates

• ​Can be the same species or different species

Predation

• ​An organism captures and eats another organism

  • ​Predator- an animal that hunts and eats another animal

  • ​Prey- the animal that gets eaten

Cooperation

• A process or organisms or groups of organisms work or act together ​for common or mutual benefits

  • ​Pack Hunting

  • ​Plants sharing nutrients

Answer the Questions that Follow!

​

​Use the notes you just took to help you!

​

​

Multiple Choice

In nature a relationship between two organisms that last a long time is called ...

• parasitism

• symbiosis

• mutualism

• community

Multiple Choice

A relationship where two organisms help each other and benefit?

• parasitism

• mutualism

• commensalism

• predation

Multiple Choice

A relationship where one organism eats another is called

• competition

• commensalism

• mutualism

• predation

Multiple Choice

A relationship were one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

• mutualism

• predation

• commensalism

• competition

Multiple Choice

A relationship were one organism uses another to survive; harming it in the process

• parasitism

• mutualism

• commensalism

• competition

Multiple Choice

Organisms that “fight” for limited resources such as food, water or mates. It can be between organisms from different species or between organisms of the same species.

• Predator-Prey

• Mutualism

• Competition

• Parasitism

Multiple Select

Which are examples of a commensalism relationship? (choose more than one)

• Two seals fighting for a fish

• A bird sitting on a cattle's back and eating bugs that pass by as the cow kicks them up

• a tick infesting a dog

• Orchids grow on the surface of trees in order to get better sunlight

• Golden Jackals following Tigers and eating their leftovers

Multiple Choice

A lion stalks a herd of antelope wading in a pond. A flock of water birds on the shore become startled by the sound of the lion’s approach and fly away with a great deal of noise. The birds’ sudden departure gives warning to the antelope, and they are also able to escape safely. What type of relationship exists between the birds and the antelope?

• competition

• mutualism

• commensalism

• parasitism

Multiple Choice

A lichen is a combination of two organisms, an alga and a fungus. The fungus gets its food from the alga while the alga gets water from the fungus. This is an example of which relationship?

• competition

• mutualism

• commensalism

• parasitism

Multiple Choice

What type of symbiosis?  Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers.  The flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds as they move from flower to flower.

• commensalism
• mutualism
• parasitism
• predation

Multiple Choice

When a mosquito bites you, you are the __________ and the mosquito is the  ____________.

• host, hostess
• parasite, host
• host, parasite
• prey, predator

Multiple Choice

Clown fish live among anemones, acting as a lure for the sea anemone's prey. The clown fish get protection and shelter from the anemone. This is an example of which type of symbiosis?

• Commensalism

• Mutualism

• Parasitism

Multiple Choice

A bird makes a nest in a tree.  The bird gets a house, but the tree is unharmed.

• Commensalism
• Mutualism
• Parasitism

Multiple Choice

Cattle egrets forage (feed) in fields among cattle. The egret gets easy access to flying insects stirred up by the cattle, and the cattle don't care if they are there or not.

• mutualism
• commensalism
• competition
• parasitism

Multiple Choice

In an ecosystem, members of the lizards are observed eating members of the insect population.  In this same ecosystem, birds are also observed using insects as a food source.  The relationship between lizards and birds would best be described as –

• predator
•  competitive
• parasitic
• mutualistic

Multiple Choice

A bear eats fish out of the river

• mutualism
• parasitism
• predation

• competition

Multiple Choice

Cleaner wrasse live in “cleaning stations” in a reef. They remove and eat parasites, dead tissue and mucous from reef fish, which helps reef fish stay healthy.

• Commensalism

• Mutualism

• Predation

• Parasitism

Multiple Choice

Which symbols best describe parasitism?

• +,+
• +,-
• +,0
• -,0

Multiple Choice

In the jungles of South America lives a thorn tree call an acacia. A species of ant eats secretions of the acacia, drinks its sap, and raises its young in the hollow thorns. The ants also keep competing vines from growing near the acacia tree and they help repel any insects that would damage the acacia tree.

• mutualism

• commensalism

• parasitism

Multiple Choice

Mockingbirds will push the eggs out of a blue bird's nest and use the nest for it's own babies illustrating...

• commensalism

• parasitism

• mutualism

• predation

Multiple Choice

Aphids are tiny insects that live on and eat the leaves of plants, removing vital nutrients from the plants.

• Predation

• Parasitism

• Commensalism

• Mutualism