Sym- together Bio- life/living Osis- Condition of Symbiosis Sym- together Bio- life/living Osis- Condition of

What is Symbiosis? When at least two organisms live together in a way that benefits at least one of the organisms Can occur in all of the kingdoms Can occur with organisms from different kingdoms There are three types of symbiosis: mutualism, commensalism, parasitism

Why? Can provide benefits to both organisms Allows organisms to survive in the same environmental niche Helps an organism to avoid competition Can prevent an organism from becoming “prey”

Commensalism One organism is helped and the other organism is neither helped nor harmed.

Certain species of crab carry venomous sea urchins on their backs Gives the crab protection from predators

Man of War fish live among the poisonous tentacles of the Portuguese Man-of-War jellyfish Gives the fish protection from predators

The remora attaches itself to a shark with a suction cup and eats scraps from the shark’s meals The shark is not harmed, but also does not benefit. Only the remora benefits.

Mutualism When both organisms receive some benefit from the relationship

The African honeyguide bird and the honey badger (ratel) The bird finds honey bee nests and makes a special call to attract the badger, who breaks open the hive so both can eat

Tick bird and rhinoceros; Ox-pecker and ox The birds get food (ticks) and protection and the rhino and ox get parasites removed

The crocodile opens its mouth to let the Egyptian plover (a bird) pick leeches off of its gums The crocodile is rid of a parasite and the plover gets a meal

Bees travel from flower to flower to collect nectar The flowers get pollinated and the bees get nectar to make honey

Tube worms deep at the bottom of the ocean have bacteria that live inside them The tube worms bring in the nutrients and chemicals and the bacteria convert them into food for the tube worm

Parasitism One organism is helped and the other organism is harmed and possibly killed A parasite can live on or in its “host” organism

A tapeworm attaches to the intestinal wall of its host and absorbs nutrients This harms the host because its nutrients are being diverted to the parasite

Fleas bite and suck the blood of animals Ticks can bite and hang on while they suck the blood of animals Both can transmit disease

Leeches attach to their victims and inject an anti-coagulant to keep the blood from clotting Leeches get a meal, and the organism loses blood and can get open wounds which can become infected.