Download Symbiotic Relationships

Symbiotic Relationships
Read each scenario below. Determine what type of symbiotic relationship is occurring by
highlighting the two organism’ relationships and labeling the “thumbs” (positive, neutral, or
negative). In the last column, describe why you have chosen this type of symbiotic relationship.
Remember to discuss both members of the relationship.
Scenario
(highlight – 2 different colors)
1. As far as is known, the clownfish is able to
produce a special mucus that causes the
anemone not to release its stings. It is also
believed that the movements of the fish
inform the anemone of its identity. In return
for the anemone's protection, the fish brings
scraps to it, and lures larger fish into the
anemone's tentacles.
2. Spider crabs live in shallow areas of the
ocean floor, and greenish-brown algae lives
on the crabs' backs, making the crabs
blend in with their environment, and
unnoticeable to predators. The algae
choose the crabs back because it provides
a nice home.
3. Certain kind of bacteria lives in the
intestines of humans and many other
animals. The human cannot digest all of the
food that it eats. The bacteria eat the food
that the human cannot digest and partially
digest it, allowing the human to finish the
job. The bacteria benefit by getting food,
and the human benefits by being able to
digest the food it eats.
Type of Relationship
Label the “thumbs”or
symbols!!
Reason
4. Bees fly from flower to flower-gathering
nectar, which they make into food,
benefiting the bees. When they land in a
flower,
the bees get some pollen on their hairy
bodies, and when they land in the next
flower, some of the pollen from the first one
rubs off, pollinating the plant.
5. Buffalo used to travel in herds across the
plains, as they walked through the grass the
insects would fly out of the grass and the
cowbirds would eat them. The cowbirds
would follow the buffalo, which helped
them catch insects.
6. Bromeliads are plants that grow on other
plants. They are found in rain forest and
often collect water. Several species of tree
frog will lay several eggs inside a bromeliad.
This provides a safe pool for the tadpoles to
develop into frogs.
8. The lamprey is a large invertebrate that
attaches itself to other fish. The lamprey
scrapes a hole in the fish's skin and sucks the
blood out, killing the fish.
9. The Mistletoe (plant) grows on a
mangrove. The Mistletoe penetrates the
bark of the mangrove and then takes some
of its food from the mangrove.