Living Together

Sym: From the greek/latin meaning “with”

Bio: from the greek/latin meaning “to live” or “living”

Symbiosis: A relationship where two organisms live together where at least one

of the organisms benefits from the relationship.

Symbiosis: a definition

•Mutualism-both species benefit

•Commensalism- one species benefits, the other is unaffected

•Parasitism- one species benefits, the other is harmed

Three Types of Symbiosis

Both organisms benefit from the relationship.

‘Win-Win’

Mutualism

The otters help the kelp by eating the sea urchins which endanger it. The kelp provides and anchor for the otters while they sleep.

Otters and Kelp

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Lichen is really two organisms: algae and fungus. The fungus needs food but cannot make it. The algae makes food but needs some way to

keep moist. The fungus forms a crust around the algae which holds in moisture. Both

organisms benefit.

Lichen

The tree-pies help the chital by stripping the dead velvet from the antlers. This provides

them with nourishment Therefore both species are benefiting from this

symbiotic behavior.

The Chital and the Tree-pie

MutualismRaccoon and Poison Ivy

The raccoon eats the berries of the

poison ivy and disperses the seeds

as it poops.

Both benefit.

MutualismBlack-eyed Susan gets pollinated by Green lacewing.Both benefit…lacewing gets

food (nectar) and Black-eyed Susan gets pollinated.

MutualismMushroom and Fly

Fly lands on and eats mushroom. Some of

the spores will adhere to the fly.

When the fly dies, (of natural causes) the

spores will be on new ground and will allow the mushroom to grow

in a new area.

The cleaner fish eats parasites and food bits out of the inside of this moray eel. It gets a meal and is protected

from predators by the fierce eel.

Cleaner Fish and the Moray Eel

Each type of Yucca plant can only be pollinated by a specific kind of Yucca moth. That moth

can only live on that kind of Yucca.

Yucca Plants and Yucca Moths

The tree provides a nursery for the ants in the thorns and makes

special food for the ant babies.

In return the ants sting and attack any other plants or insects that try to invade the tree.

Swollen Thorn Acacia Tree and Ants

One organism benefits, the other one is unaffected.

‘Win-Neutral Relationship’

Commensalism

The cattle help the egret who look for grasshoppers and beetles that are raised by the cows. Now and then they sit on the back of a cow, looking for ticks and flies. This does not effect the cattle in any way.

The cattle egret and cows

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Barnacles need a place to anchor.

They must wait for food to come their

way. Some barnacles hitch a ride on

unsuspecting whales who deliver them to a food source. This does not effect the whale in any way.

Barnacles and Whales

Commensalism

Red Maple and Eastern Bluebird

Bluebird nests in the maple.

Maple is unaffected, bluebird benefits

Pear-shaped puffball gets opened (and

spores dispersed) by Opossum

Puffball benefits, opossum is not

affected.

Commensalism

The oak gall wasp stings the oak tree.

the tree then grows a GALL which is a nest for

the wasp’s babies. When the larva hatch,

they eat their way out of the gall.

Does not help or hurt the oak tree

Oak Gall Wasps and Oak Trees

British soldier lichen provides shelter for

centipede.

Commensalism

One organism benefits, the other one is negatively affected

‘Win-Lose Relationship’

Parasites rarely kill their hosts…it would require them to get another one!

Parasitism

Mistletoe is an aerial parasite that has no roots of its own and lives off the tree that it attaches itself to. Without that tree it would die. It slowly chokes out the life of the host tree.

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Bedbugs are small, nocturnal parasites

that come out of hiding at night to

feed on unsuspecting humans.  They feed

exclusively on blood!  Their bites often

result in an allergic reaction.

Bedbugs

The definitive host of the cucumber tapeworm is a dog

or a cat (occasionally a human). Fleas and lice are the intermediate host. the dog or cat becomes contaminated when the eggs are passed in

the feces, and the flea or louse ingests the eggs.  The dog or

cat (or human) is infected when they ingest a flea or

louse.  Hence the importance of controlling fleas on your pet!

Tapeworms

Chigger lives and eats away at

hognose snake.

Parasitism

•Bullfrog acts as a host of the big red worm parasite.

Parasitism

Parasitism

Dogwood tree is parasitized by honeysuckle.

Mutualism, Commensalism, Parasitism

Which type of symbiosis is it?

Fleas/Dogs

Lice/Humans

Clownfish/Sea Anemone

Crocodile Bird/Crocodile

Joshua Tree/Pronuba Moth