Symbiotic Relationships
Take notes over each symbiotic relationship and identify a couple examples you can think of.
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Parasitism
In parasitism (PAR-uh-sit-iz-um), one organism lives on or inside another organism and harms it. The parasite obtains all or part of its nutritional needs from the other organism, called the host. Generally, parasites weaken but do not kill their host, which is usually larger than the parasite. Tapeworms, for example, are parasites that live in the intestines of mammals. Fleas, ticks, and lice live on the bodies of mammals, feeding on the blood and skin of the host. Mutualism In mutualism (MYOO-choo-ul-iz-um), both species benefit from the relationship. Many flowers, for example, depend on certain species of insects to pollinate them. The flowers provide the insects with food in the form of nectar, pollen, or other substances, and the insects help the flowers reproduce. Commensalism In Commensalism (kuh-MEN-sul-iz-um), one member of the association benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. Small marine animals called barnacles, for example, often attach themselves to a whale's skin. The barnacles perform no known service to the whale, nor do they harm it. Yet, the barnacles benefit from the constant movement of water past the swimming whale, because the water carries food particles to them. Predation In predation (pri-dey-shuhn), a predator (an organism that is hunting) feeds on its prey (the organism that is attacked). Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them, but the act of predation always results in the death of its prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption. Owls for example, are predators of mice and receive nutrients after ingesting the mice. Competition In competition (kom-pi-tish-uhn ) an interaction between organisms or species, in which the fitness (the ability to both survive and reproduce) of one is lowered by the presence of another occurs. Limited supply of at least one resource (such as food, water, and territory) used by both is required. In competition two or more organisms compete or fight for one or more resources. Plants for example, may grow taller than another plant as they compete for sunlight. |
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