Symbiosis and

Symbiotic Relationships

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Our goal for today is to answer these questions:

• What is symbiosis?

• What are the different kinds of symbiosis?

• What are some examples of symbiosis?

A close relationship that

benefits

at least one

of the species in the relationship.

Literal translation: living together

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Symbiosis Three types:

Parasitism

Commensalism

Mutualism

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What are the different kinds of symbiosis?

Mutualism ParasitismCommensalism

both organisms benefit

one organism benefits

one organism benefits

one organism is unaffected

one organism is harmed

SymbiosisThe three types of symbiosis often overlap. Generally, scientists classify the relationships between organisms based on the most obvious traits.

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Is the fish just hitchhiking?(commensalism)Is the fish cleaning the shark whileit is being protected from predators? (mutualism)Is the fish feasting on shark blood?(parasitism)

MutualismA relationship in which both species benefit.

Example: Bees and Flowers

Bees rely on the flower for a food source. The flower benefits because the bee picks up pollen and transports it to another flower. This aids in the reproduction of the plant.

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Mutualism

Organism One Organism Two

Another example:

Cleaner shrimp cleaning a zebra moray eel. Mutualistic relationships such as these promote the well-being of the host fishes and provide food for those that do the cleaning.

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CommensalismA relationship in which one species benefits and the other species is neither helped or harmed.

Example: Barnacles adhere to the skin of a whale or scallop : (Barnacles are crustaceans whose adults are sedentary and will attach anywhere)

The barnacle benefits from the relationship and does not harm or help its host.

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CommensalismPure commensalism is usually harder to find in nature because upon examination you often find that both species do benefit in some way. However, it’s not obvious at first glance.

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Example: As a large beetle spreads its wings to fly, a teeny tiny hitchhiker is seen going for a free ride. The pseudoscorpion, spider-like and very tiny, often gets around by hiding under the wing covers of large beetles. Not only does it get a lift to a new destination, but it gains protection from predators as well. As far as we can tell, the beetle gets no benefit from carrying around this stowaway. The pseudoscorpion gains all the advantage in this relationship.

Other examples:The cattle egret feeds on insects stirred up by the herds of livestock in the fields. The livestock generally do not benefit from this… BUT…they have been seen feeding on ticks as they perch on the backs of the livestock.

The anemone fish lives among the forest of tentacles of an anemone and is protected from potential predators that are not immune to the sting of the anemone. 2012HappyEdugator

Commensalism

Organism One Organism Two

ParasitismA relationship in which one organism lives on or

inside another and as the one benefits, the other is harmed.

Examples: Outside parasites (ectoparasite): fleas, and ticks.

Inside parasites

(endoparasite): tapeworms and

hookworms.

hookworm

tapewormsflea

tick 2012HappyEdugator

Example: ParasiteSea Lamprey: These primitive fish attach to the bodies of native fish and feed on the fish's body fluids.

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Another Parasitism ExampleThis tomato hornworm is covered with cocoons of

pupating braconid wasps.

The wasp causes the

tomato hornworm

to die as it pupates.

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Yet another example: brood parasitism

The cowbird will lay its eggs in other birds nests. These eggs usually hatch a day earlier than the host eggs. The baby cowbirds take over the nest and aggressively take food meant for the offspring of the host.

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Parasitism

Organism One Organism Two

Acacia Plant & AntsStinging ants nest in acacia tree, whose

thorns discourage the ants’ predators. The

tree also provides ants with food. Ants attack

other animals that approach the tree &

clear competing plants away from the base of

the tree.

Which symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism

The remora attaches itself to the shark and saves energy since it

doesn’t have to swim. It snacks on the sharks’ kills. The shark doesn’t

get anything.

Shark & Remora

commensalism

Which symbiotic relationship is this?

This tiny emperor shrimp is riding along on the back of a sea cucumber. The

shrimp gets to travel around under the protection of its much larger partner, and the sea cucumber doesn't seem to

mind.

Emperor Shrimp & Sea Cucumber

commensalism

Which symbiotic relationship is this?

Clown Fish & Anemone

This clown fish swims among the sea anemone

and gets protection, since its predators will get stung by the sea anemone. The anemone gets prey lured

its way.

Which symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism

Loa Loa Worm & Human

This worm infects humans through

their blood stream and gets a nice

warm safe home. The

human may go blind or have other complications as a

result.

Which symbiotic relationship is this?

parasitism

Barnacle & the WhaleBarnacles regularly colonize the skin of filter-feeding whales, and they often

do so in huge numbers — one humpback whale, for instance, can host almost 1,000 pounds of barnacles.

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Cattle & Egrets

As these cattle walk around eating grass they

stir up lots of insects. The egrets hang around

and get a yummy meal of insects.

Which symbiotic relationship is this?

commensalism

Let’s Review

1. What is symbiosis?2. What are the different kinds of symbiosis?3. Describe one example of each kind of

symbiotic relationship.

Answer each of following questions.