Symbiotic Relationships

Brittany SmithBrittany Smith

Susan MartinSusan Martin

BIOLOGYBIOLOGY

• STANDARD 2.0:– The student will investigate the interactions of

organisms within their environment through different relationships, population dynamics, and patterns of behavior.

• LEARNING EXPECTATION 2.1:– Compare and contrast the different types of symbiotic

relationships.

• PERFORMANCE INDICATOR LEVEL 1:– Identify Commensalism, Parasitism, and Mutualism,

given a scenario with examples.

• Link to TN Curriculum Standards

This Standard May Be Difficult To Teach Because…

• Mutualism and Commensalism share similar concepts, and can thus be confusing to students.

• This may be the first time students are exposed to the three distinct groups of symbiotic relationships.

• SYMBIOSIS is the interaction between 2 different organisms living together

– HOST- usually the LARGER of the 2 organisms

– SYMBIONT- usually the SMALLER member

THE THREE SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS ARE...

PARASITISM MUTUALISM COMMENSALISM

EXTRA PRACTICE ACTIVITY

GO BACK TO SPECIFIC QUESTION

Click on a Picture Below to Learn About the Relationship

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PARASITISM

• Is a relationship where the Symbiont lives in/on the Host

• The Symbiont (or Parasite) BENEFITS

• The Host is HARMED

• For example, the tick in the picture above is a parasite. It benefits by extracting blood from its human host. The human is harmed because

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• Is a relationship between the host and a symbiont, where both organisms benefit and neither is harmed.

• The relationship can be long or short term.• For example, in the photo above, the host flower

benefits by being pollinated by the traveling butterfly. The symbiont butterfly benefits from the nectar that it extracts from the flower.

Mutualism

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Go Back To…

COMMENSALISM

• Is a relationship between the host and symbiont, where the symbiont benefits and the host is neither helped nor harmed.

• The symbiont benefits by receiving transportation, housing, and/or nutrition.

• For example, in the photo above the symbiont barnacles receive transportation from the host whale. The host whale is neither helped nor harmed by the barnacles.

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EXTRA PRACTICE ACTIVITY

In the following activity, you will be given a picture scenario. Identify and select the symbiotic relationship (parasitism, mutualism, or commensalism) represented in the picture.

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ADVANCE TO NEXT SLIDE

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SLIDE NAVIGATION INSTRUCTIONS

In this photo the “cleaner fish” receives nourishment by dining off of the parasites and remaining food debris in the eel’s mouth. Is this an example of…

PARASITISM

MUTUALISM

COMMENSALISM

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Clownfish are frequently found in the tentacles of sea anemones. Sea anemones capture their prey by paralyzing them with their tentacles. However, the clownfish produces a mucus that prevents the tentacles from harming it. By dwelling amongst the tentacles the clownfish receives a protected home. This relationship is an example of …

PARASITISM MUTUALISM COMMENSALISM

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work!

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The birds in the picture are munching on tiny parasitic insects located on the rhino. The relationship between the birds and the rhino is an example of…

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PARASITISM

MUTUALISM

COMMENSALISM

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Lampreys are primitive fish with limited digestive systems. They attach to and feed on the body fluids of fish with more advanced digestive systems, often leading to the death of the host fish. This relationship is an example of…

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PARASITISM

MUTUALISM

COMMENSALISM

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SORRY MAN, TRY AGAIN

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That’s CORRECT! Keep up the great

work!

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Orchids grow on the branches of high trees. These orchids get more water and sunlight than those on the ground. The tree is unaffected by the orchid’s presence. This relationship is an example of…

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PARASITISM

MUTUALISM

COMMENSALISM

HELP

SORRY MAN, TRY AGAIN

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That’s CORRECT! Keep up the great

work!

Image Resources

• www.worldsurface.com• www.orn.mpg.de/~knauer/ bshary/bsharyr.jpg• www.cbu.edu/.../ image005.jpgcommensalism• www.cbu.edu/~seisen/ExamplesOfCommensalism.htm• www.agen.ufl.edu/.../ lect/lect_11/lect_11.htm• www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/.../ sea-mer/index_e.htm• www.orchid.or.jp/.../ walke/top-Brazil-1999.html

RESOURCES

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbiosis• pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/2009_abyss.html• www.cyberlearn.com/coral.htm

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