Name: Baltazar, Joshua D.

Date Submitted:

Course and Section: Bs Biology 2- Block 6 ECO 2102L

Activity 8
Biotic Relationships: Positive interaction
Objectives:
 To be able to see how the biotic factors affect a certain organism
 To be able to conduct a study on positive interactions of organisms to other species
 To be able to visit a site of an ecosystem in which different species are present

Materials:
Any leguminous plant with nodules Blank Slide
Blade Aqueous methylene blue
Distilled water Alcohol lamp
Test tube Lichen
70% ethanol
Prepared slide of lichen of lichen
Procedure:
A. Commensalism
1. Look for a plant growing on another plant (ex. Phyllodendron living on a narra tree)
2. Describe and draw your specimen (Fig__)
B. Mutualism
1. Obtain any leguminous plant (e.g. clover, beans, peas, soybeans, etc) with large root
nodules. Sketch a portion of the root with nodules (Fig__)
2. Detach the nodules using a sharp blade. Make sure the nodules have a piece of root
attached. Wash the nodules in a test tube with distilled water by shaking for about 3
minutes. Transfer the nodules in 70% ethanol. Dip for 3 mins.
3. Take out the nodules from the alcohol and rinse again in distilled water. Prepare a
slide of the nodules using the squash technique. Pass the air-dried slide over a flame
several times and stain with aqueous methylene blue for 3 mins
4. Observe the slide under oil immersion objective. Describe and draw your specimen
(Fig__)
 5. Another known plant- to –plant mutualism is the interaction of certain fungi and algae
to form lichens. Lichens appear s as greenish gray patches on exposed rocks, on barks
of trees, or on the ground. Bering to class the lichens samples.
6. Indicate the habitat where your sample was found. Examine it with magnifying lens.
Describe and sketch the lichens (Fig__)
7. Examine a prepared slide of a section of Lichen. Identify, draw, and label the algal
and fungal layers (Fig__)
C. Video Clips
1. View the following video clips by national geographic
a. Caribbean Cleaners
b. Ant and Butterfly Symbiosis
c. Colorful Sea Urchin Hitch a ride on a crab
d. This green sea Turtle is providing Free transportation to a few hitchhikers
2. Discuss the biotic relationship mentioned in each video clip.
D. Additional Observations
1. Visit a garden or Natural Habitat
2. Observe and identify the positive biotic relationships present in that particular place.
3. Identify the organisms involved and describe how they interact with one another.
Results:

Fig__. Epiphytic Plant and its host

a. In what way is the epiphytic plant benefitted?

Epiphytes play an important role in tropical rainforest diversity and productivity and
take a massive part in creating unique habitats for animals that cannot be found in any other
place of the world. The term epiphyte describes a plant which, like a parasite, grows on a
host, but unlike a parasite, takes no nutrients from the tree itself and relies on nutrients from
the air, falling rain, and the compost that lies on tree branches. Their epiphytic way of life
gives these plants advantages in the rainforest, allowing them access to more direct sunlight,
a greater number of canopy animal pollinators, and the possibility of dispersing their seeds
via wind.

(a) (b)
 Fig__. Mutualism between _______ and_______ (a)root nodules (b) Bacteria from the
root nodules
b. What benefit do leguminous plants derive from their association with the bacteria?

Legumes form a unique symbiotic relationship with bacteria known as rhizobia,

which they allow to infect their roots. This leads to root nodule formation where bacteria
are accommodated to convert nitrogen from the air into ammonia that the plant can use
for growth. This symbiotic nitrogen fixation allows legumes to thrive in habitats with
limited nitrogen availability. The relationship between legumes and Rhizobia sp. is a
form of symbiosis called mutualism, where both organisms benefit from each-other - the
plant gets usable nitrogen from the ammonium and the bacteria receive organic acids
from the plant to use as a food source.
c. How are bacteria benefited from such association?

Rhizobia are symbiotic diazotrophs (prokaryotic organisms that carry out

dinitrogen fixation) that form a symbiotic association with legumes. This association is
symbiotic in that both the plant and rhizobia benefit. The plant supplies the rhizobia with
energy in the form of amino acids and the rhizobia fix nitrogen from the atmosphere for
plant uptake. In return for the fixed nitrogen that they provide, the rhizobia are provided
shelter inside of the plant's nodules and some of the carbon substrates and micronutrients
that they need to generate energy and key metabolites for the cellular processes that
sustain life.
d. How are root nodule formed?

Root nodules are found on the roots of plants,

primarily legumes, that form a symbiosis with
nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Under nitrogen-limiting
conditions, capable plants form a symbiotic
relationship with a host-specific strain of bacteria
known as rhizobia. Leguminous plants have root
nodules. the reason behind this is that the root
nodules have certain bacteria which can convert
atmospheric nitrogen into soil soluble format which has the plant to grow more easily.
e. What is the importance from an ecological viewpoint of symbiotic nitrogen fixation?

The natural process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, whereby plants such as legumes fix
atmospheric nitrogen gas to ammonia, usable by plants can have a substantial impact as it is
found in nature, has low environmental and economic costs and is broadly established.
Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is important because it is a part of a mutualistic relationship in which
plants provide a niche and fixed carbon to bacteria in exchange for fixed nitrogen. Because it is
the principal source of the nitrogen in the soil, nitrogen that plants need to grow, nitrogen
fixation is one of the most important biochemical processes on Earth. Living organisms need
nitrogen because it is a part of the amino acids that make up proteins , and the nucleic acids that
make up DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Nitrogen within living
organisms is eventually decomposed and converted to atmospheric nitrogen. This form, however,
is highly stable and unreactive chemically, and is therefore not available for use by most
organisms. Some species of bacteria, though, can convert N2 into NH3(ammonia) or other usable
forms of nitrogen. These nitrogen-fixing bacteria include species of the genera Rhizobium,
Anabaena, Azotobacter, and Clostridium, as well as others.

Fig.__ Gross Morphology of lichen sample

f. How are fungal and algal symbionts benefited in this type of interaction?

A lichen is an organism that results from a mutualistic relationship between a

fungus and a photosynthetic organism. The other organism is usually a cyanobacterium
 or green alga. The fungus grows around the bacterial or algal cells. The fungus benefits
from the constant supply of food produced by the photosynthesizer.

Guide Questions
1. Differentiate obligate and facultative symbiotic relationships. Cite example for each.
Obligate symbiosis is when two organisms are in a symbiotic relationship because
they can't survive without each other. Facultative symbiosis is when the species live
together by choice. There are four main types of symbiotic relationships: mutualism,
commensalism, parasitism and competition. In simple terms…

Examples:
Obligate Symbiosis- he mutualistic association
between acacia plants and the ants that live on
them is an excellent example: The plants
provide food and accommodation in the form of
food bodies and nectar as well as hollow thorns
which can be used as nests. The ants return this
favor by protecting the plants against herbivores. The presence of ants greatly reduces bacterial
abundance on surfaces of leaves and has a

visibly positive effect on plant health.

Faculative symbiosis- Bees and flowering plants have a mutualistic relationship where
both species benefit. Flowers provide bees with nectar and pollen, which worker bees collect to
feed their entire colonies. Bees provide flowers with the means to reproduce, by spreading pollen
from flower to flower in a process called pollination.
2. What is protocooperation?

Protocooperation is where two species interact with each

other beneficially; they have no need to interact with each other -
they interact purely for the gain that they receive from doing
this. It is not at all necessary for protocooperation to occur;
growth and survival is possible in the absence of the interaction.

3. What is ectosymbiosis? Give at least 2 examples

Ectosymbiosis is form of symbiotic behavior in which a parasite lives on the body

surface of the host, including internal surfaces such as the lining of the digestive tube and
the ducts of glands. The parasitic species is generally an immobile, or sessile, organism
existing off of biotic substrate through mutualism, commensalism, or parasitism.
Ectosymbiosis is found throughout a diverse array of environments and in many different
species. In some species the symbiotic environment provided by both the parasite and
host are mutually beneficial. In recent research it has been found that these micro-
flora will evolve and diversify rapidly in response to a change in the external
environment, in order to stabilize and maintain a beneficial ectosymbiotic environment.

One of the many examples of ectosymbiotic parasites includes head lice in

humans, which feed off of the blood of humans by attaching to the scalp of a humans
head. Additionally, mature Branchiobdellida bacteria act as a nutrient thief in the gut of
crayfish species to exist
Conclusion
In an ecosystem, primarily, it comprises of both biotic and abiotic factors that makes an
organism survive. In this study, we were able to see the benefits of different species to
one another and how they were able to contribute in different factors of survivability
(Food resources, accumulation of nutrients, protection, etc.). Nitrogen is one of the
necessity of every living thing on earth especially the trees. If those organisms are
necessary for the ecosystem, then symbiosis is necessary to keep the ecosystem
functioning. For example, nitrogen-fixing bacteria biology are necessary for plants to
live, because they convert nitrogen into a form the plant can use. The bacteria need the
plants to provide a home. Symbiotic relationships are important because they are a major
driving force of evolution. This networking and cooperation among species allows them
to survive better than they would as individuals. Balance in the ecosystem is important,
and such activities and relationship are processes that keeps the ecosystem functioning
well and surviving. Without such processes, organisms present today could no longer
survive for the next generation. With the help of the other organisms, survival will always
be possible because no one can live alone.