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? Two organisms that live together
Temporarily or for a longer time
At least one of the organisms benefits from the relationship

3. What are the different kinds of symbiosis?
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
both organisms benefit
one organism benefits
one organism benefits
one organism is unaffected
one organism is harmed

4. Parasitism Causes harm to host
The parasite benefits, the host is harmed or in some cases killed.

6. Zombie Caterpillars -Slave Bodyguard
Glyptapanteles is a wasp that lays its eggs in the body of a caterpillar.
This is a three layered parasitic infection.
The wasps disable the caterpillar’s immune system, allowing the wasp eggs to survive.
The eggs hatch and feed on the caterpillar, but do not kill it. Instead, the caterpillar stops developing and spends the rest of its life protecting the wasp larva, even going as far as spinning its own cocoon around the wasp pupae.
When the adult wasp emerges from its cocoon, the zombie caterpillar finally tastes the sweet release of death.

7. Commensalism Only one member benefits
sharing space, defense, shelter, food
Neither will die if relationship is ended
Shrimp & sea cucumber
The Shrimp hitch a ride on the large sea cucumbers. The shrimps get transported through a large area of potential food by their host with only a minimal expenditure of energy on their part. They can be observed getting off their host cucumber to feed in productive areas, and back on for a ride to the next spot!

8. Commensalism: one benefits, one is unaffected
Cattle with cattle egrets
Cattle stir up insects as they eat grass Egrets hang around and eat insects
Commensalism: one benefits, one is unaffected

9. Commensalism: one benefits, one is unaffected
Clown fish with anemone
Clown fish gets protection Anemone is unaffected
Commensalism: one benefits, one is unaffected

10. Cactus Wren & Cholla Cactus
builds its nest in a cholla cactus to protect its young from predators such as raven. There is no harm to the cactus.

11. Mutualism Both organisms derive mutual benefit
Neither can survive without the other
Tickbirds and rhinos

12. Buffalo & Oxpecker Buffalo Oxpecker Lets the bird eat
Eats ticks and other parasites off skin
Warns buffalo of danger

13. Honey Bee & the Dandelion
gets to eat the pollen from the flower.
Dandelion
uses the bee to spread its pollen to another flower

14. Shark and Remora Fish Shark Remora Fish Lets the fish eat
Eats parasites
Gets the shark’s leftovers

15. Hermit Crab & Sea Anemone
protects the crab
Sea anemone
Gets leftover food

16. Crocodile & Bird Nile crocodile Crocodile bird Usually eats animals
Allows bird to walk around its mouth
Crocodile bird
Cleans parasites in croc’s teeth
Removes and eats scraps of food
Eats harmful leeches and parasites
Notes:
Mammal - Bird relationships are common.
Questions:
Can you think of other animal-bird symbiotic relationships?
Why and how do you think this relationship evolved?
What special adaptations might have developed for this relationship?

17. Mutualism: both benefit
Moray Eel with Cleaner Shrimp
Zebra Moray Eel gets a clean mouth
Cleaner Shrimp gets a meal
Mutualism: both benefit

18. Mutualism: both benefit
Antelope with Oxbird
Antelope gets rid of parasites Oxbird gets a meal
Mutualism: both benefit