1. Warm Up
Can you think of examples of relationships where both people/ organisms benefit?
Can you think of examples of relationships where one organism benefits while the other is harmed?

2. Symbiotic Relationships

3. Symbiotic Relationships
An interaction between organisms where at least one organism benefits from the relationship.

4. Types of Symbiotic Relationships
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISM
PARASITISM

5. “Good for you, good for me!
MUTUALISM
“Good for you, good for me!
Example: Clownfish and Anemone
The anemone is poisonous, but the clownfish has a special coating.
The anemone protects the clownfish and the clownfish cleans the anemone.

6. COMMENSALISM “Good for you, doesn’t bother me!
Example: Remora and Shark
A remora attaches to a shark’s body. It travels with the shark and feeds on the shark’s leftovers This does not hurt OR help the shark.

7. Parasitism “Good for you, hurts me!” Example: Botfly and Host
Bot flies lay their
eggs in the skin of
mammals. The
larvae eat the
host’s skin until
they are ready to
fly away.

8. A wasp stings a caterpillar and injects its eggs
A wasp stings a caterpillar and injects its eggs. The eggs hatch and devour the caterpillar from the inside. Eventually they emerge when they transition from larvae to adult.
The wasps could not survive without caterpillars.

9. THE THREE SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS ARE...
Click on a Picture Below to Learn About the Relationship
PARASITISM
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISM
EXTRA PRACTICE ACTIVITY
GO BACK TO SPECIFIC QUESTION
EXIT

10. PARASITISM Is a relationship where an organism LIVES IN OR ON its Host
The Parasite BENEFITS
The Host is HARMED
For example, the tick in the picture above is a parasite. It benefits by extracting blood from its host.
EXIT

11. Mutualism
Is a relationship between the host and an organism, where BOTH organisms benefit and NEITHER is harmed.
For example, the host flower benefits by being pollinated by the butterfly. The butterfly benefits from the nectar that it gets from the flower.
EXIT

12. Go Back To…

13. COMMENSALISM
One organism benefits by receiving transportation, housing, and/or nutrition
The host is not helped or harmed.
For example, barnacles receive transportation from the host whale. The whale is not helped or harmed by the barnacles.
EXIT

14. EXTRA PRACTICE ACTIVITY
In the following activity, you will be given a picture scenario. Identify and select the symbiotic relationship (parasitism, mutualism, or commensalism) represented in the picture.
EXIT

15. SLIDE NAVIGATION INSTRUCTIONS
ADVANCE TO NEXT SLIDE
RETURN TO PREVIOUS SLIDE
GET HELP, DEFINITION
QUIT ACTIVITY
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16. In this photo the “cleaner fish” receives nourishment by dining off of the parasites and remaining food debris in the eel’s mouth. Is this an example of…
PARASITISM
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISM
HELP
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17. That’s CORRECT! Keep up the great work!
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18. SORRY MAN, TRY AGAIN
SORRY MAN, TRY AGAIN
EXIT

19. PARASITISM COMMENSALISM MUTUALISM HELP EXIT
Clownfish are frequently found in the tentacles of sea anemones. Sea anemones capture their prey by paralyzing them with their tentacles. However, the clownfish produces a mucus that prevents the tentacles from harming it. By dwelling amongst the tentacles the clownfish receives a protected home. This relationship is an example of …
PARASITISM
COMMENSALISM
MUTUALISM
HELP
EXIT

20. SORRY MAN, TRY AGAIN
EXIT

21. That’s CORRECT! Keep up the great work!
EXIT

22. The birds in the picture are munching on tiny parasitic insects located on the rhino. The relationship between the birds and the rhino is an example of…
PARASITISM
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISM
HELP
EXIT

23. SORRY MAN, TRY AGAIN
EXIT

24. That’s CORRECT! Keep up the great work!
EXIT

25. PARASITISM MUTUALISM COMMENSALISM EXIT
Lampreys are primitive fish with limited digestive systems. They attach to and feed on the body fluids of fish with more advanced digestive systems, often leading to the death of the host fish. This relationship is an example of…
PARASITISM
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISM
HELP
EXIT

26. SORRY MAN, TRY AGAIN
SORRY MAN, TRY AGAIN
EXIT

27. That’s CORRECT! Keep up the great work!
EXIT

28. PARASITISM MUTUALISM COMMENSALISM EXIT
Orchids grow on the branches of high trees. These orchids get more water and sunlight than those on the ground. The tree is unaffected by the orchid’s presence. This relationship is an example of…
PARASITISM
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISM
EXIT
HELP

29. SORRY MAN, TRY AGAIN
SORRY MAN, TRY AGAIN
EXIT

30. That’s CORRECT! Keep up the great work!

31. Cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds' nests
Cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds' nests. The hatched cowbird pushes the host eggs out of the nest and eat all the food the host parents bring.
Parasitism

32. In this interaction, the flower becomes pollinated by the insect, while the bee receives food in the form of pollen and nectar
MUTUALISM

33. MUTUALISM
The Tickbird feeds off the ticks and flies that live on the hide of the African Black Rhinoceros. This helps the Rhino stay healthy and clean.

34. COMMENSALISM #1 #1
The moss uses the water and nutrients on the tree to grow. The tree grows unaffected.

35. COMMENSALISM Hermit Crab and Snail A hermit crab lives in
shells that are made
and then abandoned
by snails. This neither
harms nor benefits the
snail.

36. Mosquitoes suck the blood from humans for food
Mosquitoes suck the blood from humans for food. Humans receive a bite and their skin becomes inflamed.
Parasitism

37. Curie

38. Clownfish live in a sea anemone’s tentacles
Clownfish live in a sea anemone’s tentacles. Clownfish clean the anemone. The tentacles also protect the Clownfish.
MUTUALISM

39. Shitake Mushrooms (fungus) absorb sugars and starches made by the birch tree. The tree is unharmed.
Commensalism

40. The horsehair worm starts life as an egg laid in a puddle
The horsehair worm starts life as an egg laid in a puddle. The puddle dries out and a grasshopper eats the egg. The egg hatches and burrows through the gut of the grasshopper into its body cavity. The worm feeds off the nutritious blood of the insect and grows until it reaches adulthood. Then it starts producing chemicals which take over the brain of the insect and causes the insect to find water. The grasshopper drowns and then worm then exits the grasshopper and lives in the puddle, mating and laying more eggs. The cycle is repeated.
Parasitism

41. Algae grows on the Tree Sloth’s fur
Algae grows on the Tree Sloth’s fur. These algae help to camouflage the sloth against the tree.
Commensalism

42. The wasp stings and paralyzes the spider and lays an egg on it
The wasp stings and paralyzes the spider and lays an egg on it. The larvae will consume the still-living spider from the inside, killing the spider and allowing the wasp to grow.
Parasitism

43. Commensalism
The moss uses the water and nutrients on the tree to grow. The tree grows unaffected.