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/
CommensalismCommensalism
One organism benefits, the other One organism benefits, the other one is unaffected. one is unaffected.
Win-Neutral relationshipWin-Neutral relationship
CommensalismCommensalism
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
CommensalismCommensalism
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
CommensalismCommensalism
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
CommensalismCommensalism
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
ParasitismParasitism
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!
ParasitismParasitism
Chigger lives and Chigger lives and eats away at eats away at hognose snake.hognose snake. ATW from Kountry LifeATW from Kountry Life
ParasitismParasitism
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
ParasitismParasitism
Ohio State University
•Bullfrog acts as a host of the big red worm parasite.
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