Symbiotic Relationships

Drought
Predation
Competition
Human
Disturbances
Parasitism &
Disease

Symbiosis
Relationship
Mutualism
Commensalism

Shown is a picture of Clownfish

and a Sea Anemone. The Sea
Anemone protects the Clownfish
from predators by using its
tentacles to paralyze predators
with Cynoblasts(shocks) and then
ingesting the predators. Clownfish
defend the Anemone from
Butterfly Fish that feed on
Anemone.

In Africa, a lion must find food supply.

Therefore the female lion stalks and kills
animals such as wildebeest and antelope
in order to provide food to the lion pride.

In Africa, the Nile Crocodile, and a tiny blackbird

called the Plover have a unique relationship. The
Plover acts as a toothpick for the fierce crocodile and
helps by removing tiny morsels of food that is stuck
between the crocodile's teeth. These food particles
are the source of food for the bird.

Another symbiotic relationship occurs between

humans and mosquitoes. Mosquitoes feed on human
blood and in turn create an irritations on the skin at the
site where the mosquito fed on the human.
Mosquitoes can also transmit various viruses such as
the West Nile Virus. The Malaria parasite is also
transmitted through a mosquito bite and can be deadly
to a human.

The ostrich and the zebra have unique

relationship. The ostrich always moves with the
herd of zebras since it has a poor sense of
hearing and smell, whereas the zebra has very
sharp senses. The ostrich has a keen sense of
sight, which the zebra lacks. Hence, these two
species depend on each other to warn one
another of any nearby lurking dangers.

The Catalpa Worm is being fed on by tiny wasp

larvae. The adult wasps sting the caterpillar, injecting
their eggs. The eggs hatch and devour the caterpillar
from the inside, being careful not to disrupt any vital
functions. Eventually they emerge and spin cocoons
of silk in which they transition from larvae to adult.

Another relationship can be observed between Cattle

Egrets and the livestock. The Cattle Egrets are mostly
found in meadows and grasslands are always seen
near cattle, horses and other livestock.
These birds feed on the insects that
come out of the field due to the
movement of the animals.

Another relationship is the one between tigers and

golden jackals. The jackal feeds on the remains of the
prey left by the tiger after a kill. The Jackal does not
appear to hinder or benefit the Tiger.

A relationship can be found among canines and

tapeworms. Tapeworms enter the canines intestinal
tract, where they then attach to the lining of the
intestines and suck the nutrients from the animal
resulting in poor health, weight-loss and can lead to
death of the canine.

Barnacles are crustaceans whose adults are

sedentary. The motile larvae find a suitable surface
and then undergo a metamorphosis to the sedentary
form. The barnacle benefits by finding a habitat where
nutrients are available. (In the case of lodging on the
living organism, the barnacle is transported to new
sources of food.) The presence of barnacle
populations does not appear to hamper or enhance
the survival of the animals carrying them.