Name: __________________________________ Class: _______________ Period: _______

Ecological Interactions: Symbiosis Want Ad

BACKGROUND:

Relationships arent always love-love in biology, nor are they always love-hate. Relationships
among organisms can take on many different meanings. Coevolution is the result of an association
between two species in which they evolve together and develop such a close relationship that one
needs the other for survival. If both organisms benefit from the relationship, its called mutualism. If
one benefits, and the other gets nothing, its called commensalism. However, if one organism
benefits while the other is harmed, then the relationship is considered parasitism.

Atlanta Journal Constitution Want Ads

WANTED: LAZY PUP WITH SHORT NAILS
Desperately seeking a parasitic relationship. I am a flea with

a thin body and springy legs who can jump 1,000 times my own

body size! I am in search of a dog with long fur for me to

cuddle up in, thin skin for me to bite, and short nails to

keep from scratching me. I need your help because your blood

is my nutrients and I need it to keep me alive. In return, I

promise to give you the heebie-jeebies and plenty of scabby

bites to scratch and keep you busy!

US
ME YOU TOGETHER

+ =
WHAT TO DO:

Work alone or with a partner to create a classified advertisement/want ad for a job opening in
which an organism in a symbiotic relationship is looking for the other organism. The ad should be
based on mutualism, parasitism, or commensalism. The ad should be from the point of view of
the organism that benefits from the relationship (for example, if the relationship is parasitism, the
organism getting harmed would NOT be seeking out the organism that would harm it) . The ad can
be done as a PowerPoint presentation, brochure, newspaper ad, magazine ad, poster, prezi
presentation, glogster, etc. Please review your presentation options with your teacher.

You will present your Want Ad to the class in a digital format. When presenting you must
tell us the 1) scientific name and the common name of the organisms, 2) type of relationship
the organisms engage in and 3) where the organisms live.

Headline Describing Job - You must have AT LEAST the following criteria:

Catchy headline to grab attention (10 points)

A line describing your relationship (mutualism, parasitism, commensalism). (10 points)
A line about who you are and the qualities you possess. (10 points)
A line about the type of organism you need for the job (Job Qualifications). (10 points)
A line about why you need this service (10 points)
A line describing what you will give the organism for their services. (10 points)

Picture Accompanying Headline - You must have AT LEAST the following criteria:

A picture of you, the organism in search for the other organism. (10 points)
A picture showing the organism you are in search of. (10 points)
A picture showing you both together engaged in the symbiotic relationship. (10 points)
Advertisement must be NEAT, COLORFUL and SPELL CHECKED. (10 points)

Medium to Create Ad - Must Be in Digital Format

You can use any digital application or program to create your advertisement. Some suggestions:

Prezi, Powtooon
Smore Word
PowerPoint Paddlet
ThinkLink Creately

Use the template on the next page to record your research & ideas for your symbiosis Wanted Ad.
Name: __________________________________ Class: _______________ Period: _______

Ecological Interactions: Symbiosis Want Ad

What Did You Find:

This project is worth _________ points and it is due ________________.

The organisms I have been assigned are: _____________________________________________
After researching I have determined that the type of symbiosis represented by this relationship is:

Do You Have the Following:

_____Catchy headline to grab readers attention.

_____One line describing the relationship (parasitism, mutualism, commensalism).
_____One line about who you are.
_____One line about the type of organism you need for the job (qualifications).
_____One line about why you need this organism.
_____One line about what you will give this organism in return for their involvement (if nothing will
be given in return state it clearly).
_____A picture showing you (the organism in search for another).
_____A picture showing the organism you are searching for.
_____A picture showing both organisms together in the symbiotic relationship.
_____Neat, colorful and spell checked.

Notes:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
 TEACHER HANDOUT ONLY

Ecological Interactions:

Links for Students to Research Symbiotic Relationships

http://www.necsi.edu/projects/evolution/co-evolution/mutualistic/co-evolution_mutualistic.html

http://www.necsi.edu/projects/evolution/co-evolution/parasites/co-evolution_parasite.html

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/microbiome/symbiosis

http://study.com/academy/lesson/symbiotic-relationships-mutualism-commensalism-
amensalism.html

http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-symbiosis.html


http://www.ehow.com/facts_6915558_symbiotic-tree-amazon-fruit-bat.html

https://prairieecologist.com/2010/12/08/the-yucca-and-its-moth/

http://feedthedatamonster.com/home/2014/7/15/mutualism-of-the-month-solar-powered-sea-
slugs-and-their-photosyntheic-algae

https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Zooxanthellae_and_their_Symbiotic_Relationship_with_M
arine_Corals

http://study.com/academy/lesson/commensalism-relationship-examples-definition-types.html


Links to Videos of Symbiotic Relationships:

https://youtu.be/zSmL2F1t81Q

https://youtu.be/8bFSR_4PmCk

https://youtu.be/vMG-LWyNcAs?list=PL14608229BAE53DB6

https://youtu.be/Qqa0OPbdvjw?list=PL14608229BAE53DB6

https://youtu.be/2AM3ARs9MMg?list=PL14608229BAE53DB6

https://youtu.be/Xm2qdxVVRm4?list=PL14608229BAE53DB6

https://youtu.be/gFkdiCQxbyg?list=PL14608229BAE53DB6
 TEACHER HANDOUT ONLY

Ecological Interactions: Possible Symbiotic

Relationships to Research
Teacher Note:
The possible symbiotic relationships are grouped according to difficulty in finding information. The
teacher can utilize this by giving students who need scaffolded lessons the easier to research
materials, and those students who need more of a challenge those relationships that are more
complex and abstract.

Teacher Suggestion: The teacher can cut out the list into strips and place into a basket or hat for
random selection by students, or may assign relationships as they see fit.
 TEACHER HANDOUT ONLY

Ecological Interactions: Symbiotic Relationships

SIGN UP SHEET

DATE
NAME OF STUDENT ORGANISMS RESEARCHED
PRESENTING

DATE
NAME OF STUDENT ORGANISMS RESEARCHED
PRESENTING