Symbiotic Relationships in Coral

Reefs

Symbiotic Relationships in Coral

Reefs

SymbiosisSymbiosis

“Living Together”

“Living Together”

Types of SymbiosisTypes of Symbiosis• Mutualism

– Both the symbiont and host benefit.

• Commensalism– The symbiont benefits with little

effect on the host.

• Parasitism– The symbiont benefits to the

detriment of the host.

• Mutualism– Both the symbiont and host

benefit.

• Commensalism– The symbiont benefits with little

effect on the host.

• Parasitism– The symbiont benefits to the

detriment of the host.

• Aegism– An association for protection

• Inquilism– One organism shelters within another

organisms

• Endoecism– One org shelters in the burrow or defensive

shelter of another

• Phoresis– One org uses another for transportation

• Epizoism- A sessile org lives on top of another

Obligate Versus Facultative

Relationships

Obligate Versus Facultative

Relationships

Obligate Relationship:Relationship is necessary for organism to surviveEx. coral and zooxanthellae

Facultative Relationship:Can survive without symbiont, but not as wellEx. anemone fish and anemone

MutualismMutualism

zooxanthellae and coralszooxanthellae and corals

Zooxanthellae give corals:• Increase coral growth by enhancing

calcification process• Provide energy• Give oxygen

Coral give zooxanthellae:• Nitrogen waste• A place to live• Carbon dioxide waste• Protection through their hard skeletons and

stinging cells• Harmful UV light is filtered by coral

pigments

Trapezia crab coming out of its

host coral (Pocillopora

damicornis) to attack the arm of an invading Crown of

Thorns Starfish

Trapezia crab coming out of its

host coral (Pocillopora

damicornis) to attack the arm of an invading Crown of

Thorns Starfish

anemonefish and sea anemones

anemonefish and sea anemones

goby shrimp and the Hawaiian shrimp gobygoby shrimp and the

Hawaiian shrimp goby

cleaner wrasse cleaning stations

cleaner wrasse cleaning stations

banded coral shrimpbanded coral shrimp

scarlet cleaner shrimp

scarlet cleaner shrimp

pompom crabs and sea

anemones

pompom crabs and sea

anemones

anemone hermit crab and sea anemones

anemone hermit crab and sea anemones

Decorator Crab Sponge crab

Camouflage

Hunting strategies

Mangrove and sponges

                  

                   

CommensalismCommensalism

sea cucumber crab and sea cucumberssea cucumber crab and sea cucumbers

Christmas tree worms and Porites corals

Christmas tree worms and Porites corals

coral shrimps and coralscoral shrimps and corals

gall crabs and pocilloporid corals

gall crabs and pocilloporid corals

petroglyph shrimp and Porites lobatapetroglyph shrimp and Porites lobata

squat anemone shrimp and sea

anemones

squat anemone shrimp and sea

anemones

crabs and sea anemonescrabs and sea anemones

sea star shrimp and sea stars

sea star shrimp and sea stars

urchin shrimp and sea urchinsurchin shrimp

and sea urchins

shrimpfish & sea urchinsshrimpfish & sea urchins

Barnacles on whale

Remora on whale shark (open water)

ParasitismParasitism

Epitomium snails andmushroom corals

Epitomium snails andmushroom corals

parasitic flatworms and rice

coral

parasitic flatworms and rice

coral

parasitic nudibranc

hs

parasitic nudibranc

hs

coral “zits” on Porites compressa

coral “zits” on Porites compressa

bacterial diseases on corals

bacterial diseases on corals

Ewa “fangtooth” blenny

Cookie-cutter shark

Inquiry

1. Define mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

2. Provide examples of each.3. What are the benefits the

zooxanthellae and coral receive?