SYMBIOSIS MATCHING ACTIVITY

HERMIT CRAB AND SNAIL SHELL 2 The hermit crab will find an empty snail shell and occupy it. If it outgrows it, it will find another. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the crab help the snail? Does the crab hurt the snail? Does the snail know the crab has its shell?

PILOT FISH AND SHARK Pilot fish usually swim near sharks or whales. They feel protected and get the benefit of eating leftovers from the sharks' meals. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the pilot fish help the shark? Does the pilot fish hurt the shark? Does the shark even know the pilot fish is there? 3

CLOWNFISH AND SEA ANEMONE Sea anemones have stinging tentacles. Clownfish are not harmed by the tentacles, but live among the tentacles. The clownfish gets food when other fish are torn up by the tentacles. The sea anemone is protected from predators that the clownfish chases away. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the clownfish help the anemone? Does the anemone help the clownfish? Do they hurt each other? 4

SLOTH AND THE MOTH Sloths are tree-dwelling, very slow animals. A particular moth lives in the fur of the sloth. It does not feed on the sloth, nor lay eggs there. However, the moth larva (babies) feed on the sloth’s dung (poop). Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the moth help the sloth? Does the moth hurt the sloth? Does the sloth even know the moth is there? 5

YUCCA MOTH AND YUCCA The female moth gathers pollen and packs it into a ball, the flies to another plant to deposit the pollen ball into the ovary, then lays one or two eggs in the ovary. The seeds develop and the larva food on the seeds, but many are left over to grow into a new yucca plant. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the moth help the yucca plant? Does the yucca plant help the moth? Do they hurt each other? 6

TICK AND THE DOG Ticks attach to the skin of dogs and other furry creatures and suck blood. They drop off to digest the meal and later find another host to attach to. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the tick help the dog? Does the tick hurt the dog? Does the dog know the tick is there? 7

LUNGWORMS AND BIGHORN SHEEP The lungworms live in the lungs of bighorn sheep, causing them to be sick and even die. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Do the lungworms help the sheep? Do the lungworms hurt the sheep? Does the sheep know the worms are there? 8

OXPECKER AND RHINOCEROS The oxpecker is a bird which lives in Africa and is often seen perching on the backs of Africa game (big animals). It feeds on the ticks and blood-sucking flies that bother the host animals. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the oxpecker help the rhinoceros? Do the rhinoceros help the oxpecker? Do they hurt each other? 9

BARNACLES AND WHALES Barnacles attach themselves to whales and ride along, gathering food with their tentacles. They do not harm the whales. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Do the barnacles help the whales? Do the barnacles hurt the whales? Does the whales know the barnacles are there? 10

ICHNEUMON WASPS AND OTHER INSECTS Ichneumon wasps lay their own eggs inside the eggs or larvae of other insects. Once hatched, the larvae of the ichneumon wasps feed on the other insect’s eggs or larvae. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the wasp help the insect? Does the wasp hurt the insect? Does the insect know the wasp is there? 11

MISTLETOE AND OAK TREES Mistletoe, a green sprig, grows on oak trees. It will obtain support and food from the tree. Trees with lots of mistletoe growing on them are often weakened by the mistletoe. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the mistletoe help the tree? Does the mistletoe hurt the tree? Does the tree know the mistletoe is there? 12

TERMITES AND PROTOZOA Small organism called protozoa live inside the digestive tract of termites. Termites eat wood, which they cannot digest. The protozoa digest the wood for the termite and for themselves? Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the protozoa help the termite? Does the termite help the protozoa? Do they hurt each other? 13

ANT AND THE APHID Aphids feed on plants and give off a sugary substance, called honeydew, that ants like. Ants take care of aphids and protect them in order to keep getting the honeydew. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the ant help the aphid? Does the aphid help the ant? Do they hurt each other? 14

BACTERIA AND COW Bacteria live in the stomach of the cow and digest the grass and plant material that the cow eats. The cow cannot digest the plant material without the help of the bacteria. Mutualism, Commensalism or Parasitism? Does the bacteria help the cow? Does the cow help the bacteria? Do they hurt each other? 15