1. Relationships in Nature
Notes:
Relationships can be found throughout nature:
Dependent and Independent
Beneficial and Harmful
Hosts and Parasites
Questions:
This rhino is in a variety of relationships some obvious and some less visible.
1) Can you name any of these partnerships?
2) What the purpose of the relationship?
3) Who does it harm or help?

2. What is symbiosis? Literal definition: the act of living together
What it means:
Two organisms that live together
Temporarily or for a longer time
At least one of the organisms benefits from the relationship
Three relationships: mutualism
commensalism
parasitism

3. Mutualism
Relationship between two organisms of different species in which each member benefits
Neither can survive without the other
Example
Tickbirds and rhinos
Clownfish & sea anemone

4. Examples of Mutualism
Tickbirds perched on a black rhinoceros get food and help the rhino get rid of pests

5. More Examples of Mutualism
One kind of flagellate lives in the guts of termites and digests the cellulose in the wood that the termites eat. Without the protozoa, the termites could not completely digest the cellulose.
biology.unm.edu/ccouncil/Biology_203/Images/Protists/giardia-trph.jpg

6. More Examples of Mutualism
Some types of fungi grow on the roots of plants and release an acid that changes minerals in the soil into forms that plants can use.

7. More Examples of Mutualism
You and a species of bacteria that lives in your intestines benefit each other! The bacteria get a plentiful food supply from you and in return you get vitamins that the bacteria produce.

8. More Mutualism Examples
The living corals near the surface of the water provide a home for the algae. The algae produce food through photosynthesis that is used by the corals.

9. What does mutualism mean?

10. Give three examples of mutualism.1. 2. 3.

11. Commensalism
Relationship between two organisms of different species in which one derives benefit without harming the other
Neither will die if relationship is ended
Example:
Shrimp & sea cucumber

12. Examples of Commensalism
Barnacles attached to a gray whale gain a home and transportation to areas with food while leaving the whale unaffected.
images2/graywhl.jpg

13. Examples of Commensalism
Remoras hitch a ride and feed on scraps of food left by sharks. The remoras benefit from this relationship while sharks are unaffected.

14. Examples of Commensalism
The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is often found in pastures holding horses and cattle. As the livestock graze, insects are stirred up by their movement and this provides nourishment for the egrets.

15. More Examples of Commensalism
The Great Burdock (Arctium lappa) has spines on the seeds that curve upward which allow the seeds to attach themselves on the fur of passing animals. The plant benefits by having its seeds disperse in a large area and the animals are really not affected.

16. More Examples of Commensalism
Orchids receive more sunlight for photosynthesis if they grow high on tree branches. The orchid plants are helped by the tree. The tree gets nothing in return from the orchids.
tree-species.blogspot.com

17. What is commensalism?

18. Give three examples of commensalism.1. 2. 3.

19. Parasitism
A symbiotic relationship between two organisms of different species in which one organism benefits and the other is harmed.
The organism that benefits is called
the parasite.
The organism that is harmed is called the host.
Causes harm to host

20. Parasitism (cont.)
The parasite gets nourishment from its host, which is weakened in the process. Sometimes a host organism becomes so weak that it dies.
Some parasites, such as
ticks, live outside the
host’s body.
Other parasites, such as
tapeworms, live inside
the host’s body.

21. Examples of Parasitism
The flagellate parasite, Giardia Lamblia, lives in the digestive tracts of humans and other vertebrates causing diarrhea and severe stomach cramps. Giardia live in water and hikers may drink the infected water.

22. More Examples of Parasitism
A louse on a human scalp receives nourishment from the blood and causes a rash or irritation.

23. More Examples of Parasitism
A female wasp lays eggs in the caterpillar. When the eggs hatch they eat the caterpillar alive!

24. More Examples of Parasitism
A flea uses the blood of the rabbit for nourishment.

25. More Examples of Parasitism
Lampreys attach to fish causing sores.
dnr.wi.gov

26. What is parasitism?

27. Give three examples of parasitism.1. 2. 3.

28. Resources & Cites
The American Heritage Student Science Dictionary published by Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005.
AGS General Science published by American Guidance Service, Inc., 2001.
Biology, An Everyday Experience published by Glenco McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc
Life Science published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2005.
Photos downloaded from various sites using the search engine,