1. What is SYMBIOSIS? Episode 1: Symbiotic Super Powers Let’s cover some of the vocabulary in the movie.
All photos used with permission from Day’s Edge Productions
This slide presentation can be should before or after the final short film. For convenience, a link to all of the films is embedded in the last slide of this presentation.

2. Symbiosis is a relationship between two different species
Symbiosis is a relationship between two different species. There are three main types of symbiosis.
Symbiosis can benefit both organisms, it’s called mutualism.
Or it can benefit one organism and harm the other parasitism.
It can also benefit one organism and does not benefit or harm the other commensalism.
In the video, Dr. Wilson refers to symbiosis as a mutually beneficial relationship between two organisms. Many textbooks specifically call this mutualism. Many textbooks define symbiosis as any relationship between two organisms, including parasitism and commensalism. Therefore, we have added more terms on this slide to correlate with textbook vocabulary. However, please note that most scientists do not consider parasitism and commensalism to be symbiosis, only mutualism.

3. This partnership helps both partners.
The movies focus on mutualism. It’s a partnership between two or more species.
This partnership helps both partners.

4. There are many examples of this mutualistic symbiosis.
In the movies, all of these examples of mutualism are simply called symbiosis.

5. Where can these partnerships happen?

6. An example of symbiosis on land is the partnership between plants and mycorrhizae.
The fungus helps the plant gain nutrients from the soil. The plant, in turn, feeds the fungus with some of the sugars it makes through photosynthesis.

7. In the sea, corals are animals that have a symbiotic relationship with zoothanxellae, tiny algae.
The coral provides the zoothanxellae with a place to live. The algae, in turn, provides the coral with food it produces through photosynthesis.

8. There are also many examples of symbiosis inside our own bodies
There are also many examples of symbiosis inside our own bodies. We’ll learn more in the movies.

9. One more thing about the movies: Notice how all of the scientists are working in partnerships, too!

10. And now it’s time for… Symbiosis Episode 1: Symbiotic Superpowers To view all four films, click here
Click on movie title to begin.