Ecosystem Interactions

A pearlfish spends the day inside the intestines of a sea cucumber. The fish emerges from the sea cucumber at night to feed on small crustaceans. The sea cucumber is not harmed by this. 

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Predation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

A cymothoid isopod lives inside the mouth of a snapper fish. The isopod cuts blood vessels in the fish’s tongue, causing the tongue to get destroyed. The isopod then hooks it's pereopods, or legs, to the base of the fish’s tongue, essentially replacing the tongue. The isopod stays there for the rest of its life, feeding on blood, mucus, and stray pieces of food from the fish.   

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Predation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A boxer crab carries a pair of small anemones in its claws. When approached by a predator, the crab waves the stinging tentacles of the anemones to deter the predator. The anemones eat the small particles of food dropped by the crab when it is feeding.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Predation

An alpheid shrimp digs and maintains a deep burrow where it lives with a goby fish. The goby fish sits at the entrance, keeping watch for predators, and signals the shrimp with a flick of its tail when it is safe to come out. If a predator swims by, the goby darts into the burrow and the shrimp retreats further inside.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Predation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Corals feed off the byproducts of microscopic algae living within their own tissue, called zooxanthellae. The algae use photosynthesis to produce food for the corals, which use their energy to extract calcium from the seawater and build their skeletons. The zooxanthellae algae are protected by the hard coral and obtain nutrients from the coral. 

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Predation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Athlete’s foot is a fungus growing between and around human toes. The fungus gets nutrients from the human skin. Athlete’s foot causes dry, scaly skin, itching, inflammation and even blisters.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Predation

Bacteria live in the intestines of cows and other organisms. Bacteria help to digest food for the cow. The cow provides a warm, moist environment to live.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Predation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Bald eagles can spot fish swimming in a lake from high altitudes, swoop down, and grab fish to feed their young back in the nest.

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Predation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

A relationship between two organisms in which both organisms benefit. 

• Mutualism 
• Predation
• Parasitism 
• Commensalism 

A coyote captures, kills, and eats a rabbit. What type of symbiotic relationship is this?

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Predation