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Plant and Animal Interactions: Lesson
Plant and Animal Interactions: Lesson
Interactions 21 LESSON
164
Leader Sheet
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Missouri Botanical Garden 165
Leader Sheet
Brookings Interpretive
4 Climatron 5 Center
1. Hibiscus / Hummingbird 1. Acacia/Ants
A hummingbird inserts its beak into the Ants protect the acacia plant from foraging
hibiscus. As it feeds on nectar, pollen animals and climbing vines. The ants live
sticks to its head. This pollen is carried to on the acacia in large nests. (Mutualism)
the next hibiscus flower and contacts the
See the ant/acacia display.
stigma, the top of the pistil which is the
female organ. In this way, flowers are Closure
pollinated and the plant can produce
seeds. (Mutualism/pollination) Today you’ve looked at some interesting
plants with some complex relationships.
2. Pitcher Plant/Fly
Insects are attracted to the sweet nectar ● What relationship seems the most
on the pitcher lid. They slip into the pitcher, interesting to you?
● Have you ever seen these examples
drown in the fluid on the bottom, and are
digested by the plant. (Predation/ before?
● What organism usually seems to
carnivorous plant)
benefit the most?
3. Bromeliad/Tadpole Have students share some of their observations
The bromeliad collects water in a central and see if they agree on the nature of the
reservoir with its spiky leaves. It often relationships seen today.
serves as a home for treefrog tadpoles.
(Commensalism)
4. Orchid/Moth Teacher’s Notes
Some species of orchids have floral
rewards and colorings attractive to moths.
The moths eat nectar and transfer pollen
from one orchid to another. (Mutualism/
pollination)
5. Orchid/Fungus
Orchids produce the smallest of all seeds
with little food for growth. Some only
germinate when a fungus grows near
them. The orchid uses some of the fungus
as food and later the fungus draws
nourishment from the plant roots.
(Mutualism)
Note that this interaction is between a plant
and fungus, not a plant and an animal!
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166 Missouri Botanical Garden
Name: ______________________________________ Date: ______________________
Relationship Definition
Predation One organism eats another.
Parasitism Similar to above, except the parasite is usualy smaller than its host and doesn’t
usuallly kill it.
Commensalism One species benefits and the other species is neither helped nor harmed.
Mutualism Two species benefit each other.
Effect on Effect on
Location Plant/Partner Relationship
Plants Partner
Perennial
Coneflower/Bee
Garden
Gladney Rose
Garden Rose/Aphid
Rosehips/Bird
Climatron
Hibiscus/Hummingbird
Pitcher Plant/Fly
Bromeliad/Tadpole
Orchid/Moth
Orchid/Fungus
Acacia/Ant
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Map: Plant and Animal Interactions
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168 Missouri Botanical Garden
Map: Plant and Animal Interactions
Exit to
Brookings Interpretive Center
⇑ 6
4
5
Entrance
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Missouri Botanical Garden 169