Let’s Practice!

Symbiotic relationships

Acacia Plant & AntsThe ants lay eggs on acacia tree so they get a nice safe

place for their eggs. The acacia covers the infected area with brown flesh (called a gall.)

The plant has to use valuable resources to create the gall.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

parasitism

Anemone & Anemone Fish

mutualism

This fish lives its entire adult life among the tentacles of a bulb- tentacle sea anemone.

Anemone fish do not get stung by the anemone as would most other fish so they

get protection from predators. The fish often drop food scraps which the anemones can

eat.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

Boxer Crab & Anemones

This Boxer Crab carries a pair of stinging anemones in its claws,

which it uses to defend itself from predators. The anemones get to

move around which increases their food supply.

mutualism

What symbiotic relationship is this?

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

doesn’t have to swim, and it gets to snack on the sharks kills. The shark

doesn’t get anything.

Shark & Remora

commensalism

What symbiotic relationship is this?

This tiny emperor shrimp is riding along on the back of a sea cucumber (a long worm-like starfish relative) while it crawls along a sandy bottom. 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

What symbiotic relationship is this?

Moray Eel & Cleaner Fish

This moray eel has a small fish cleaning between its teeth. The eel gets a clean

mouth while the cleaner fish gets a nice meal.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism

Cattle & 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.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

commensalism

Antelope & Ox Bird

This ox bird hangs out on the antelope and

gets a delicious meal of bugs living on the

antelope. The antelope gets rid of parasites.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism

Loa Loa Worm & Human

This worm infects human the blood stream and gets

a nice warm safe home there. The

human may go blind or have other complications

as a result.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

parasitism

Goby and Alpheid Shrimp

What symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism

This alpheid shrimp (onthe right) uses its strong claws like a bulldozer to create a burrow in the sand. The shrimp is nearly

blind. It relies upon its partner, the sharp-eyed goby, to warn of

danger. When a potential predator approaches, both animals

disappear quickly into the burrow

Wrasse & BatfishCan you see the two cleaner

wrasses are removing parasites from a

batfish? One of the wrasses has entered the gill slit of the batfish,

and may even enter itsmouth in search of food. The

batfish gets a bath and the wrasse gets a meal.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism

Hummingbird Moth & Flower

This hummingbird moth is drinking the nectar of a flower. The flower gets pollinated (the moth brings pollen

from other flowers) and the moth gets a tasty meal.

What symbiotic relationship is this?

mutualism

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 on a sheet of lined paper.