Download Symbiosis Activity

Name _____________________________________________
Symbiosis Activity
Introduction
The nature of a community is determined by the interactions of the populations that inhabit it. A symbiosis is the
relationship between organisms of different species that have a specific relationship with each other.
Such types of relationships are quite different from each other and they are divided into the following categories:
mutualism, predation, parasitism and commensalism. Species can interact with each other, help each other or fight
for survival. Common examples of symbioses are:
M
C
Pr
P
Mutualism: Cleaner shrimp on sharks (both benefit)
Commensalism: Barnacles on whales (barnacles benefit, whales are unaffected)
Predation: Lions hunt, kill and eat gazelles (lions benefit, gazelles are harmed)
Parasitism: Ticks on dogs (ticks benefit, dogs are harmed)
Objective
To demonstrate four types of ecological symbiotic relationships (mutualism, commensalism, predation and
parasitism) as well as predator/prey relationships.
Procedure
Using the web browser of your choice, research each of the following organisms and complete the information in the
chart.
#
Organism/Role/Effect
(benefits, harmed, null)
Organism/Role/Effect
1
Yucca
Role:
Yucca Moth
Role:
Effect :
Effect:
Fox
Role:
Rabbit
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Protozoa
Role:
Termites
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Barnacle
Role:
Whale
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Oxpecker
Role:
Rhino
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
2
3
4
5
Type of
Relationship
(M, C, Pr, P)
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Wrasse
Role:
Bass
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Remora
Role:
Shark
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Hermit Crab
Role:
Snail Shell
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Silverfish
Role:
Ant
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Mistletoe
Role:
Spruce
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Liver fluke
Role:
Human
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Sheep
Role:
Cow
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Cuckoo
Role:
Warbler
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Ostrich
Role:
Gazelle
Role:
Effect :
Effect :
Bee
Role:
Marabou Stork
Role:
Effect :
Effect:
Adapted from: Chippewa Hills School District worksheet