“Together Life”

SYMBIOSISBY NATHALIE ZIMMERMANN

The word symbiosis means “living together”, referring to organisms which live closely together using each other.

Different types of symbiosis exist which I will describe now:

Parasitism:

A parasite is an organism which lives of another one using it as food, shelter and could even damage the host.

Example: Flea bites

Commensalism:

This describes a relationship in which both organisms do not harm each other and share their food.

Example: Flatworm living on a crab

Mutualism:

This describes organisms which live together and benefit from each other.

Example: example a mushroom growing on the trunk of a tree.

The meaning of symbiosis

A Conversation Between A Flower & A Bee

Flower: “Hey bee buddy, why do you keep on buzzing around me and ruffling my petals?”

Bee:

“Hey Miss Flower, you shouldn’t be complaining. I know you want to look pretty and all but when I come and visit you to get my sip of nectar, your pollen gets stuck on my furry body but when I go to the next flower the pollen I collected from you gets transported to another flower.”

Flower:

“Ok, ok you got a point here. I think you Bee guys are doing great at your job on helping us flowers cross- pollinate, and I do enjoy it when you come and visit the flowers. But I just want to you to be careful because my petals are delicate and they could fall off easily.”

Bee:

“I understand. I will let my friends, the Pollen Jocks know.”

Flower:

“Great! See you later Bee!!!! “

Organisms & their environments

Organism Environment Features How it helps to survive ?

Penguins Antarctica – Icy and cold

Thick skin, fat Helps to keep them warm

Dark colored feathers

Collect heat from the sun o keep them warm

Fast swimmers Webbed feet Powerful swimming

Organism Environment Features How it helps to survive ?

Cactus Hot, dry desert Thick skin, no leaves

Good against heat, keeps moisture in

Spikes on the skin Keeps animals away

Comparison

This chart compares the two different organisms:

Penguin:• Cold , wet, icy environment• Lots of water , very low temperatures below zero• Lives in Antarctica or places which are really cold• It is an animal• Feathers keep heat in• Can swim very fast, with heavy bones which keeps them under water

Cactus:• Hot , dry , sunny environment• Not very much water or rain available• Grows in deserts or any other hot, dry place• It is a plant• Thick skin keeps heat out• Spiky outside to prevent animal to eat it

A penguin in the desert

Imagine a penguin in the desert searching for food and water, and cold weather.

His black feather costume would absorb more heat than it could take. There wouldbe no icy cold waters around to dip in and go for a swim.

The webbed feet might help in desert to move in the sand

It is very unlikely that the penguin would survive in the desert , as they need a lotof water to exercise and the cold weather.

Every organism has been placed in a n environment they belong in and cannot be taken to other places so easily.

Design an organism- Seal

FinsFlipper

Whiskers

The seal lives in Antarctica, because of the cold weather and the water so he can hunt for fish.

He uses his fins and flippers to move quickly through the water. His body carriesa lot of fat to keep him warm in the icy waters.

Their flippers and fins have evolved over time to become good swimmers.

Body

References

www.marietta.edu www.msu.edu www.yahoo.com http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/mutualism http://www.answers.com/topic/commensalism http://

www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/adaptations/penguins.htm http://www.nasivvik.com/science/div-adapt.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinniped