Download Symbiotic Relationships

DATE:
NAME:
Science 7
Interactions & Ecosystems
CLASS:
Symbiotic Relationships
Topic 1
Concepts
Define the following terms relating to the different types of symbiotic relationships.
Parasitism –
Mutualism –
Commensalism –
Read the following examples of symbiotic relationships between two species. In the space provided,
identify each relationship as parasitism, mutualism, or commensalism, and state why you think so.
1.
Leafcutter ants live in the tropics. They cut the leaves off plants and take the leaves to their
nests, where they chew up the leaves. They plant fungal spores on the chewed leaf material.
The fungi grow and reproduce, feeding on the chewed leaf material. The ants and their larvae
also feed on the chewed leaf material.
This is an example of
because
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2.
Liver fluke worms live inside a sheep’s liver. The worms absorb and use the nutrients that pass
through the sheep’s liver. The sheep do not die, but they are weakened because they do not get
all the nutrients from the food they eat.
This is an example of
because
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3.
The clown fish and sea anemone live together. The sea anemone has poisonous tentacles that
sting. Because this poison does not affect the clown fish, the clown fish can hide in the
anemone’s tentacles. Thus the clown fish avoids being eaten by other fish. The clown fish also
eats the anemone’s waste, including scraps of its food.
This is an example of
because
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4.
Because the dodder plant no longer has chlorophyll, it cannot produce its own food. It grows
around the branches and stems of another plant, and extends feeding tubes into the other plant.
Once the feeding tubes are in place, the dodder plant sucks up the food that the other plant has
produced. The other plant is not able to grow as quickly because it is feeding the dodder plant.
This is an example of
because
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5. The sea lamprey is a jawless fish, meaning that it does not have a movable jawbone. Instead of
being able to consume their food, the sea lamprey attaches itself to other fishes by suction. It
uses a sharp tongue to scrape away the flesh of the other fishes and drinks the blood. Some of
the lamprey’s victims may die, while others live but carry a scar where the lamprey had
attached itself.
This is an example of
because
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6. Barnacles are aquatic organisms that spend most of their lives attached to something solid
rather than move about freely. Because of this, they attach themselves to other organisms, such
as whales, snails and crabs to increase their chances of finding food. The barnacles do not
affect these organisms in which they are attached to.
This is an example of
because
____________________________________________________________________________
7. As plants do not move from one habitat to another, they require the services of other organisms,
such as butterflies to reproduce. As the butterfly feeds on the nectar of the flower, pollen gets
stuck to the butterfly’s body. The butterfly carries the pollen to the next flower it feeds from.
This is an example of
because
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8.
Pseudoscorpions are scorpion-like organisms that are mostly less than 1 centimeter is length.
They have pincers like scorpions, but lack a sting. A few species of pseudoscorpions travel by
concealing themselves under the wing covers of large beetles. The pseudoscorpions gain the
advantage of being dispersed over wide areas while being protected from predators. The beetle
is, presumably, unaffected by the presence of the hitchhikers.
This is an example of
because
____________________________________________________________________________
9. Two students are working hard on their science homework. Student A is making use of the
class time given to the class to get some homework done. As a result, student A plans on
completing their homework before the class is over. Student B, however, finds that they have
forgotten their textbook to do the work. So rather than going to get their textbook, student B
decides to talk to student A about their intriguing rash on their left buttocks. While humorous
and disgusting as that may sound, student A gets distracted by this piece of information and can
no longer concentrate on their own work. Student A dispenses some advice that student B
should see a doctor about that rash. Student B agrees. As a result of this distraction, student A
doesn’t complete their homework during class time and has to miss their favorite television
show in the evening in order to get their homework done. Student B doesn’t get their
homework done either, but student B does get good advice to go see a doctor about their rash
on their left buttocks.
This is an example of
because
____________________________________________________________________________