Symbiotic Relationships in Nature MutualismCommensalismParasitism.

Symbiotic Symbiotic Relationships in Relationships in NatureNature

MutualismMutualism

CommensalismCommensalism

ParasitismParasitism

Symbiosis: a Symbiosis: a definitiondefinition Sym: From the greek/latin Sym: From the greek/latin

meaning “with”meaning “with” Bio: from the greek/latin Bio: from the greek/latin

meaning “to live” or “living”meaning “to live” or “living” Symbiosis: A relationship where Symbiosis: A relationship where

two organisms live together two organisms live together where at least one of the where at least one of the organisms benefits from the organisms benefits from the relationship.relationship.

MutualismMutualism

Both organisms benefit from the Both organisms benefit from the relationship.relationship.

Win-WinWin-Win

MutualismMutualism

Racoon and Racoon and Poison IvyPoison Ivy– The raccoon eats The raccoon eats

the berries of the the berries of the poison ivy and poison ivy and disperses the disperses the seeds as it poops. seeds as it poops.

– Both benefit.Both benefit.

MutualismMutualism

Black-eyed Susan Black-eyed Susan gets pollinated gets pollinated by Green by Green lacewing.lacewing.

Both benefit…Both benefit…lacewing gets lacewing gets food (nectar) and food (nectar) and Black-eyed Susan Black-eyed Susan gets pollinated. gets pollinated.

James L. Reveal, Norton-Brown Herbarium, James L. Reveal, Norton-Brown Herbarium, University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland

Copyright, Edward S. RossCopyright, Edward S. Ross

MutualismMutualism

Mushroom and Mushroom and flyfly– Fly lands on and eats Fly lands on and eats

mushroom. Some of mushroom. Some of the spores will the spores will adhere to the fly.adhere to the fly.

– When the fly dies, (of When the fly dies, (of natural causes) the natural causes) the spores will be on new spores will be on new ground and will allow ground and will allow the mushroom to the mushroom to grow in a new area.grow in a new area.

© Garden Safarie, http://www.gardensafari.net/


One organism benefits, the other One organism benefits, the other one is unaffected. one is unaffected.

Win-Neutral relationshipWin-Neutral relationship


Red Maple and Red Maple and Eastern BluebirdEastern Bluebird– Bluebird nests in Bluebird nests in

the maple. the maple. – Maple is Maple is

unaffected, unaffected, bluebird benefitsbluebird benefits

Copyright, Mark Brand, UConn Plant Database


Eastern Chipmunk Eastern Chipmunk and Soil miteand Soil mite– The chipmunk is a The chipmunk is a

mammal that mammal that burrows.burrows.

– The soil mite feeds The soil mite feeds off of leaf litter but off of leaf litter but cannot burrow itself. cannot burrow itself.

– The mite uses the The mite uses the chipmunk’s tunnels chipmunk’s tunnels to travel from place to travel from place to place.to place.

Copyright, Ray Norton


Pear-shaped Pear-shaped puffball gets puffball gets opened (and opened (and spores dispersed) spores dispersed) by Opossumby Opossum

Puffball benefits, Puffball benefits, opossum is not opossum is not affected.affected.

Copyright, Leon ShernoffCopyright, Leon Shernoff


British soldier British soldier lichen provides lichen provides shelter for shelter for centipede.centipede.

Dr. Lutz Nevermann, http://www.nevermanns.de/hemocytes

Copyright, CCFB/photo by Kent Loeffler


One organism benefits, the other One organism benefits, the other one is negatively affectedone is negatively affected

Win-Lose relationshipWin-Lose relationship Parasites rarely kill their hosts…it Parasites rarely kill their hosts…it

would require them to get would require them to get another one!another one!


Chigger lives and Chigger lives and eats away at eats away at hognose snake.hognose snake. ATW from Kountry LifeATW from Kountry Life


Dogwood tree is Dogwood tree is parasitized by parasitized by honeysuckle.honeysuckle.

Michael Clayton, Wisconsin State HerbariumMichael Clayton, Wisconsin State Herbarium

Department of Botany, Iowa St. University


Ohio State University

•Bullfrog acts as a host of the big red worm parasite.

Symbiotic Relationships in Nature MutualismCommensalismParasitism.

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