Let’s Practice!
Symbiotic relationships
Acacia Plant & AntsThe ants lay eggs on acacia tree so they get a nice safe
place for their eggs. The acacia covers the infected area with brown flesh (called a gall.)
The plant has to use valuable resources to create the gall.
What symbiotic relationship is this?
parasitism
Anemone & Anemone Fish
mutualism
This fish lives its entire adult life among the tentacles of a bulb- tentacle sea anemone.
Anemone fish do not get stung by the anemone as would most other fish so they
get protection from predators. The fish often drop food scraps which the anemones can
eat.
What symbiotic relationship is this?
Boxer Crab & Anemones
This Boxer Crab carries a pair of stinging anemones in its claws,
which it uses to defend itself from predators. The anemones get to
move around which increases their food supply.
mutualism
What symbiotic relationship is this?
The remora attaches itself to the shark and saves energy since it
doesn’t have to swim, and it gets to snack on the sharks kills. The shark
doesn’t get anything.
Shark & Remora
commensalism
What symbiotic relationship is this?
This tiny emperor shrimp is riding along on the back of a sea cucumber (a long worm-like starfish relative) while it crawls along a sandy bottom. The
shrimp gets to travel around under the protection of its much larger partner, and the sea cucumber doesn't seem to
mind.
Emperor Shrimp & Sea Cucumber
commensalism
What symbiotic relationship is this?
Moray Eel & Cleaner Fish
This moray eel has a small fish cleaning between its teeth. The eel gets a clean
mouth while the cleaner fish gets a nice meal.
What symbiotic relationship is this?
mutualism
Cattle & Cattle Egrets
As these cattle walk around eating grass they stir up lots of insects. The egrets hang around and get a
yummy meal of insects.
What symbiotic relationship is this?
commensalism
Antelope & Ox Bird
This ox bird hangs out on the antelope and
gets a delicious meal of bugs living on the
antelope. The antelope gets rid of parasites.
What symbiotic relationship is this?
mutualism
Loa Loa Worm & Human
This worm infects human the blood stream and gets
a nice warm safe home there. The
human may go blind or have other complications
as a result.
What symbiotic relationship is this?
parasitism
Goby and Alpheid Shrimp
What symbiotic relationship is this?
mutualism
This alpheid shrimp (onthe right) uses its strong claws like a bulldozer to create a burrow in the sand. The shrimp is nearly
blind. It relies upon its partner, the sharp-eyed goby, to warn of
danger. When a potential predator approaches, both animals
disappear quickly into the burrow
Wrasse & BatfishCan you see the two cleaner
wrasses are removing parasites from a
batfish? One of the wrasses has entered the gill slit of the batfish,
and may even enter itsmouth in search of food. The
batfish gets a bath and the wrasse gets a meal.
What symbiotic relationship is this?
mutualism
Hummingbird Moth & Flower
This hummingbird moth is drinking the nectar of a flower. The flower gets pollinated (the moth brings pollen
from other flowers) and the moth gets a tasty meal.
What symbiotic relationship is this?
mutualism
Let’s Review
1. What is symbiosis?2. What are the different kinds of symbiosis?3. Describe one example of each kind of
symbiotic relationship.
Answer each of following questions on a sheet of lined paper.