Catalyst

The clownfish lives in the anemone and is protected from the outside ocean. The clownfish also cleans the anemone and scares away predators.

Exploring SymbiosisStation 1: Clownfish and Anemone

A lichen is a combination of algae and fungus that lives on a tree.

The algae secretes food for the fungus, while the fungus protects the algae from the weather

Exploring SymbiosisStation 2: Lichens (Algae + Fungus)

Archerfish are able to knock down insects on low-lying branches by literally shooting streams of water. They can then eat the insects.

Exploring SymbiosisStation 3: Archerfish

Hookworms are microscopic organisms that can enter humans by burrowing into their skin, often on their feet. They enter the intestinal tract, where they drink a significant amount of blood. This can result in severe physical and mental impairment in the human.

(Don’t worry – they’ve been almost entirely eliminated from the US)

Exploring SymbiosisStation 4: Hookworms and Humans

Staphylococcus (or Staph for short) are bacteria that live on human skin

The human is not affected by the staph, but the staphylococcus gain food and shelter on the skin

Exploring SymbiosisStation 5: Staphylococcus and Humans!

Cleaner Fish eat food out of the Grouper’s teeth.

The Cleaner Fish get food, while the Grouper gets cleaner, healthier teeth

Exploring SymbiosisStation 6: Grouper and Cleaner Fish

There are three types of relationships among organisms: ◦ Mutualism ◦ Commensalism ◦ Parasitism

Relations among organisms

What is it?An interaction between two species that benefits both.

(“win-win”)

Mutualism

What is it?An interaction between species that benefits one and does not harm the other.

Yay! I don’t mind!

Commensalism

What is it?One organism benefits but the other organism is harmed.

Alright! Boooo!

Parasitism

Predation is when a predator seeks out and eats another organism (called a prey)

Don’t get confused with parasitism

Predation: NOT a symbiotic relationship!

Use what you have written for each organism and your new knowledge of relationships to identify whether each relationship is a:

◦ Mutualism ◦ Commensalism ◦ Parasitism

Back to the stations…

Giraffes and oxpeckers

The tongue biters

On your worksheet decide which kind of relationship is occurring and how you know

2 Examples:

Example:Mistletoe and Trees

Mistletoe is a plant that latches on to trees and steals food from them. The mistletoe benefits, but the tree is harmed.

Parasitism

Example: Flowers and insects

The insects help spread pollen to make new plants.The flowers give the insects food

Mutualism

Example:The remora fish and a shark

The remora fish suctions on to the shark for a free ride.

The shark doesn’t mind!

Commensalism

Read the article on mind controlling parasites and answer the questions on the last page

While you read, be sure to annotate

Parasite Article