Hissing Cockroaches and Symbiosis Symbiosis is when 2 or more species have long term interactions with one another. -This relationship is often shown by one of the species attaching to the other. -Relationships can be 1. good for both species (mutualistic) 2. good for one and bad for the other (parasitic) 3. one benefits while the other experiences no bad or good (commensalism) Hissing cockroaches share a symbiotic relationship with mites. -Cockroaches grow mold on their bodies from eating food off of the floor -The mites will live on the cockroach, eating any moisture and available nutrients on the body, causing the mold amounts to go down. -Here, the mites benefit while the cockroaches experience no benefit other than having less mold on them. itepix.htm

Photo by David Doubilet/National Geographic Symbiosis Sea Anemones sting, and therefore protect the clown fish from predators (animals that want to eat them) Clownfish in turn protect the sea anemones from their predators Clownfish have a special slime coat that protects them from being stung by the sea anemone clownfish/doubilet-photography

Symbiosis Ants defend acacia plants by attacking other insects that want to each the plant Acacia trees make special food, called nectar, just for the ants to eat m

Symbiosis Small “cleaner fish” clean small bits of food out of a larger fish’s teeth The small fish get food The big fish (in this case a shark!) gets healthy teeth In return, the big fish does not eat the little fish (at least most of the time) Photograph by Colin Parker, My Shot. Brian Handwerk. for National Geographic News gulf-oil-usa/