Symbiotic Species Matt Wojick

Parasitism Parasitism: Type of symbiotic relationship between organisms of different species where the parasite benefits at the expense of the host. Parasitism: Type of symbiotic relationship between organisms of different species where the parasite benefits at the expense of the host. Example: Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) and Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) Example: Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) and Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Cowbird / Bluebird Parasite Parasite Host Host rds-nesting-in-my-yard-in-middleboro/

Parasitic relationship Forces the host bird to raise the cowbirds young Forces the host bird to raise the cowbirds young Allows cowbirds more time to breed and less time spent building nests and feeding young Allows cowbirds more time to breed and less time spent building nests and feeding young Cowbird chicks hatch earlier and are bigger so they end up with more food then host’s chicks Cowbird chicks hatch earlier and are bigger so they end up with more food then host’s chicks Can lead to endangerment of host species Can lead to endangerment of host species Cowbirds lay their eggs in nests of other species of birds Cowbirds lay their eggs in nests of other species of birds

Physical Characteristics – Cowbird vs. Bluebird –Cowbird eggs have shorter gestation period than bluebirds –Cowbird Hatchlings are larger –Cowbird chick’s mouths are bigger with red coloration –Also cowbirds are louder –Cowbirds lay up to 40 eggs per season and can lay almost daily through the breeding season –Bluebirds only lay 10 eggs per year

Habitat Brown-headed Cowbird Brown-headed Cowbird Eastern Bluebird Eastern Bluebird mons/c/cf/Eastern_Bluebird-rangemap.gif Molothus_ater_Map.svg/515px-Molothus_ater_Map.svg.png

Habitat cont. Both species prefer open grassland with scattered trees Both species prefer open grassland with scattered trees Both live in temperate climate Both live in temperate climate

Food web

Major role of bluebird and cowbird –Feed on many insect pests –Spread seeds from eating berries /

Mutualism Mutualism: symbiotic relationship between two different species that interact in ways that benefit both of them Mutualism: symbiotic relationship between two different species that interact in ways that benefit both of them Example: Juniper (Juniperus communis) and Mycorrhizal Fungi Example: Juniper (Juniperus communis) and Mycorrhizal Fungi what-is-it-/ ?contentRating=1

Juniper Tree Juniper Tree Mycorrhizal Fungi Mycorrhizal Fungi /a5/Mycorrhizal_root_tips_%28amanita%29.jpg dia/commons/a/a1/Jeneverbes.jpg Mutualism

Symbiotic relationship - Mutualism Mycorrhizal Fungi attach to the roots of Juniper seedlings to get nutrition from plant’s roots Mycorrhizal Fungi attach to the roots of Juniper seedlings to get nutrition from plant’s roots Fungi uses hair like extensions to improve juniper’s ability to get nutrients from soil Fungi uses hair like extensions to improve juniper’s ability to get nutrients from soil Fungi also boosts plants immune system Fungi also boosts plants immune system

Physical Characteristics Juniper Tree Juniper Tree –Slow growing evergreen shrub –5-10m tall –Can grow in both acid and alkaline soils –Has small blue-green needles up to 1cm long –Dioecious tree - plants are either male or female; different from most trees

Physical Characteristics Mycorrhizal Fungi Mycorrhizal Fungi –Heterotrophic organism –tubular filaments called hyphae – the cellular unit of the fungi –Mycorrhizal mycelia (the vegetative part of a fungus) are much smaller than the smallest root = larger surface area AAAAAAAGcw/-RKkRM0iUpc/s1600-h/hyphae5.jpg

Habitat Juniper tree: Juniper tree: –Has the largest geographic range of any woody plant in the world –Circumboreal – found throughout northern regions –Also in North Africa and Mediterranean

Food web Juniper Tree: Juniper Tree: –Foliage is eaten by animals: red deer and rabbits –Humans use berries to flavor gin –Birds eat berries and seeds –The juniper berry miner moth also eats the seeds Mycorrhizal Fungi Mycorrhizal Fungi –Gets nutrients from juniper tree

Commensalism Commensalism: A relationship between two species that benefits one species but has no significant effect on the other Commensalism: A relationship between two species that benefits one species but has no significant effect on the other Example: Grey Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) and Barnacle (Cryptolepas rhachianecti) Example: Grey Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) and Barnacle (Cryptolepas rhachianecti) 007/09/a_whale_of_a_baseline.php

Commensalism Host: Grey whale Host: Grey whale Commensal: Acorn barnacle Commensal: Acorn barnacle tures/california_grey_whales_scammon.htm

Symbiotic relationship - Commensalism Barnacles are unable to move from place to place on their own Barnacles are unable to move from place to place on their own They attach themselves to whales to gain access to nutrient rich waters They attach themselves to whales to gain access to nutrient rich waters This does not harm or affect the whale This does not harm or affect the whale

Physical Characteristics Grey whale: Grey whale: –Baleen whale –Mammal –40 to 50 ft long –Weigh 30 to 40 tons –Omnivores –produce primarily low- frequency sounds for long-distance communication and navigation

Physical Characteristics Acorn barnacle: Acorn barnacle: –Arthropod (closely related to crabs) –Traps plankton with cirri (its legs) and draws it back into mouth. –Attaches to host by secreting barnacle cement from its base

Habitat Grey Whale Range: pacific ocean in northern hemisphere close to shore Grey Whale Range: pacific ocean in northern hemisphere close to shore

Food Web Grey whale: Grey whale: –Eats 2000 pounds of food each day –Eats small, shrimp like animals called amphipods, which feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton Only major predator is humans (now an endangered species) Only major predator is humans (now an endangered species)

Food Web Barnacles eat: Barnacles eat: –Phytoplankton –Zooplankton –Small Bacteria Whelks (Gastropods) eat barnacles Whelks (Gastropods) eat barnacles

Mitigations – Grey whale 1840s to 1940s: Whalers killed thousands of whales, decreasing their population from 24,000 to only a few thousand 1840s to 1940s: Whalers killed thousands of whales, decreasing their population from 24,000 to only a few thousand They were given protection in 1946 They were given protection in 1946 over the last half century their numbers have increased to over 20,000 over the last half century their numbers have increased to over 20,000 They are still protected under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act They are still protected under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act 8/03/09/stop-norwegian-whaling-pt2/

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