1. Symbiotic Relationships
Activity 13
Symbiotic Relationships

2. BELLRINGER…
How would you describe the relationship between a producer and a consumer?
Show students the video clip “Ancient Farmers of the Amazon.” The link is found on the Science and Global Issues page of the SEPUP website (sepuplhs.org/sgi).
Note: Do not name any of the symbiotic relationships, as students will be classifying different symbiotic relationships in the activity.

3. Watch video clip…
ANCIENT FARMERS OF THE AMAZON
Describe the relationship between the fungus & the leaf cutter ants
Do either benefit?

4. Read the introduction and examine the photo under the Challenge.
How do you think it affects the crab to have the other organisms growing on it?
What are some benefits? Drawbacks?
What is symbiosis?
Information on holding this class discussion can be found in your Teacher’s Edition for this Activity. Do not name the relationship between the crab and the other organisms. Ask students how they would classify the relationship between the crab and the other organisms.

5. How do organisms gain or lose from their interactions with each other?
Challenge
How do organisms gain or lose from their interactions with each other?

6. With your group…read through the “symbiotic relationship” cards
Note similarities and differences between the different relationships
Sort the cards into several groups based on similar traits decided upon among your group
Record your results
Share with class
Suggestions for having students share their classification systems and for having a class discussion on the scientific classification systems can be found in your Teacher’s Edition for this Activity.

7. Now read through the “interaction description” cards
Reorganize your symbiotic relationship cards into one of the interaction groups
Note similarities and differences between your original classification system and this one
Record your results
Share with class

8. Complete matching worksheet & then answer the Analysis Questions…
1. Define each relationship:
PARASITISM
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISIM
AMENSALISM

9. 2. Choose 1 relationship from each category…
Provide benefits of each relationship
Provide drawbacks of each relationship

10. Analysis 3
How would the food webs and the symbiotic relationships in the kelp forest be affected if the senorita fish were overfished and were no longer found in the kelp forest?
Analysis Question 3 may be scored using the Understanding Concepts (UC) scoring variable. More information and a sample student response can be found in your Teacher’s Edition for this activity, and in Teacher Resources IV: Assessment.

11. Analysis 4
How are the mutualism examples you learned about in this activity similar to organisms in an ecosystem performing photosynthesis and cellular respiration?
Discuss Analysis Question 4. Students’ answers should generally follow the concepts in the sample response found in your Teacher’s Edition for this activity, where there is also more information on what to emphasize in the discussion.

12. How do organisms gain or lose from their interactions with each other?
Revisit the Challenge
How do organisms gain or lose from their interactions with each other?

13. amensalism commensalism mutualism parasitism symbiosis Key Vocabulary
See Teacher Resources III: Literacy for more information on key vocabulary and the most effective strategies to enhance student vocabulary learning.
Note that bold words are formally defined in this activity. Words in regular font are used in the activity, but not formally defined. The definition of a key vocabulary word should not be discussed as a class prior to the formal definition being introduced.