1 Symbiosis A relationship where two organisms (of different species) live together.

2 There are 3 symbiotic relationships:

Mutualism: –A relationship where both species benefit.

Commensalism: –A relationship where one organism benefits and the other does not benefit
and is not harmed.

Parasitism: –A relationship where one species harms the other species.

3 Examples of Mutualism: Termites and Bacteria in intestines –Bacteria live in intestines –Break
down cellulose –Bacteria digest wood.

4 Examples of Mutualism: Rhino and Tick Bird –Tick bird eats ticks off of rhino—YUMMY!
DINNER! –Tick bird warns of danger by making noise. –Tick bird eats ticks which can be
parasites to the rhino

5 Examples of Mutualism: Bees and Flowers –Bees use the pollen and nectar to make honey –
Flowers need the bees to help the plant reproduce. –They both benefit!

6 Examples of Commensalism: Clownfish and Sea Anemones –Clownfish live in anemones; this
gives them protection –Clownfish have a protective coating on scales that prevent them from
getting stung. –Sea anemones do not benefit.

7 Examples of Parasitism: Tapeworm in Human –Tapeworms live in the intestines of humans

and consume materials the host (the human) need! –Tapeworm thrives, the human is harmed.

8 Examples of Parasitism: Tick on Dog –Ticks attach themselves on to the skin of a dog. The
ticks suck the blood of the dog and can transfer diseases. –Tick thrives, the dog is harmed.
 Defensive Symbiosis
1. Many insects develop symbiotic relationships with other organisms to help defend them
in their environment. These relationships are mainly mutualistic. An example of this type
of relationship is between aphids and several ant species. The aphids provide honeydew
to the ants while the ants will take the aphids into their nests at night to protect them from
predators and escort them back to a plant the next morning. This ant species has even
been seen collecting the aphid's eggs and placing them in their nest's storage chambers to
survive the cold winter months. Another example of defensive symbiosis is between an
Amazonian bee species, Schwarzula and a species of scale insects called Cryptostigma.
The bee species nests in a hole in a tree previously occupied by moth caterpillars. This
opening also houses around 200 of these scale insects. The scale insects feed on the tree
sap and excrete honeydew. The bee will lick up this solution for its nourishment and in
turn keep the scale insects from drowning in their own waste. Yet still, the blue-winged
butterly in Northern Europe and Asia exists by its symbiotic relationship with an ant
species from the Myrmica group. The caterpillar form of the butterfly excretes a
honeydew solution which the ants crave. The ants will take the caterpillar back to its nest
where they will look after the caterpillar over the winter. When the weather warms, the
caterpillar pupates and then crawls from the nest to mate and lay eggs on certain plants.

2. After a meal, a crocodile will walk onto the riverbank, find a cozy spot, and sit with its mouth
wide open. This action signals the little bird to enter the crocodile’s mouth to pick off tiny bits of
food that remain in the huge reptile’s teeth.

Plovers aid in cleaning the mouths of their huge crocodilian clients. The brave little bird’s
actions help to prevent infection from raw meat for the crocodile and to remove insects that
crawl atop the crocodile’s skin. Therefore, the tiny birds get a free meal and the crocodile gets a
free dental checkup and cleaning. Not a bad arrangement!

If the bird encounters or senses danger from another animal while snacking within the
crocodilian jaws, the plover shrieks a warning call and then flies away. The plover’s scream
signals the crocodile to dash into the water and disappear from any potential threat.
Commensalism

1. Commensalism is a type of relationship where one of the organisms benefits greatly from
the symbiosis. The other is not helped but is not harmed or damaged from the
relationship. In other words, this is a one-sided symbiotic relationship.

 Example: The relationship between cattle egrets and cattle.

 The cattle egret will eat insects that have been disturbed when the cattle forage.

In some of these commensalism relationships, the organism that is reaping the benefit will use
the other for protection or transportation.

 Example: A hermit crab taking up residence in an empty seashell.

 Example: A spider building a web on a tree.

2. The shark and remora relationship benefits both species. Remoras are able to eat scraps
of prey dropped by the shark. They also feed off of parasites on the shark’s skin and in its
mouth. One species is even known to consume feces from the host.

The remora receives more than just a convenient food source; it is also protected from
predators and given free transportation through the oceans. By keeping the waters clear of scraps
around the shark, the remoras prevent the development of unhealthy organisms near the shark.
The host shark is also kept clean of irritating parasites that could adversely affect its health.
Remoras are not to be confused with pilot fish, another species that travels with sharks in a
similar symbiotic relationship. Pilot fish swim alongside sharks but do not attach themselves.
PARASITISM

1. This picture shows you one example of parasitism that is displayed

between humans and mosquitoes. When a mosquito lands on a
human they are ready to eat. The mosquitoes rely on humans for
food. They drink human blood to help care for their eggs. When the
mosquito is sucking the human's blood through their long sucking
mouth parts, saliva from the mosquito is entered directly into the
human's blood stream. That saliva in the human's body can cause
many different diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, filariasis,
elephantiasis, and heart worm. This relationship between the human
and the mosquito would be considered parasitism because the
human (host) is affected negatively and the mosquito (parasite)
benefits from the relationship. The mosquito gets food but on the
other hand the human is exposed to many diseases.

      

2. Tick on Dog –Ticks attach themselves on to the skin of a dog. The ticks suck the
blood of the dog and can transfer diseases. –Tick thrives, the dog is harmed.
 PREDATION

Tigers have no predators but other predators such as bears, crocodiles, hyenas, dholes and
leopards may kill their younglings. There are records of female tigers and even sometimes adult
males killed by eastern brown bears but it was not an act of predation but rather they wanted to
steal their food. Crocodiles are probably the only animal who attacks the tiger to eat it since they
basically eat everything they can bite (they even attacks elephants even if they have no chance)
but an adult healthy tiger is generally too much for a croc, especially compared to other preys.

Their prey varies from the subspecies and the areas where they live.

Bengal tigers feed on gaurs, water buffaloes, tapirs, deers such as sambars and sikas, nilgais,
wild boars, serrows, takins, antelopes and sometimes even elephants and rhinoceroses.

Some examples of predator-prey relationships are lion-cape buffalo, tiger-deer, snake-frog,

python-rabbit, bear-fish and cheetah-gazelle. Predator-prey relationships exist in all habitats
and ecosystems. An eagle hunts smaller birds such as pigeons and swallows. An orca hunts seals
and walruses in the sea.

A predator is usually a carnivore, and the prey is usually an herbivore, but this is not always the
case.

A predator relies on excellent senses and skills to make a kill. Some of these skills are inherent in
the species, and some are acquired. Superior senses of smell, vision and speed are essential for
predators.

The prey has its own defense mechanism. For example, a cape buffalo has enormous strength to
ward off attackers, and a gazelle has speed and stamina to outrun any predator.