Ecological Relationships Review

Symbiotic

Relationships

Symbiotic Relationships

● symbiosis - a close

relationship between two
or more types/species of
organisms
○ sym = together
○ bio = life

The clownfish feeds the anemone and
the anemone protects the clownfish

Types of symbiosis

●

There are three types of symbiotic relationships

●

Each relationship can be shown using the following symbols

○ + (benefit)

○

– (harm)

○

0 (no effect)

Mutualism

●Both organisms benefit

●+ / + relationship

●Like a healthy friendship!!!

Commensalism

1 species benefits, the other species is unaffected

● + / 0 relationship
●

Like an unbalanced relationship: one person puts in all the effort and the other does nothing

Parasitism

●

one organism benefits
(parasite), the other species (host) is harmed

Host = an organism on or in which a parasite
attaches

● +/- relationship

●

Think of a toxic friendship
where you might feel used by your friend

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example mutualistic relationship

• Bees and flowers
• Lions and zebras
• Trees and sunlight
• Cats and dogs

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a parasitic relationship

• A bird grooming its feather

• A tree frog using a plant to hide

• Our gut bacteria

• A tick feeding on a dog's blood

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example commensalism

• A clownfish living among the tentacles of a sea anemone
• A bee collecting nectar from a flower
• A remora fish attaching itself to a shark
• A lion hunting a zebra

Exit ticket due by the end of the block