Transcript Symbiosis
A symbiotic relationship is when two organisms of different species live together. There are 3 types of symbiotic relationships: •Mutualism •Commensalism •Parasitism Mutualism is when both organisms benefit from living together. Each organism is better off because they live with each other. (Good for you, good for me) An example of mutualism is the oxpecker (a species of bird) and the rhinoceros or zebra. Oxpeckers land on rhinos or zebras and eat ticks and other parasites that live on the skin. The oxpeckers get food and the beasts get pest control. Also, when there is danger, the oxpeckers fly upward and scream a warning which tells the rhino or zebra of danger. Oxpecker and zebra Another example of mutualism is when a bee flies from flower to flower to gather nectar. The bee uses the nectar to make food. When the bee lands on the flower, it gets some pollen on its hairy body and carries the pollen to the next flower. This is how many plants are pollinated. The Brazil nut is an important source of food for a large rat called the agouti. The agouti bites open the tough outer shell and eats the nut inside. Sometimes the agouti buries some of the seeds for later use and forgets where they are. This allows some seeds to germinate and grow into new plants. Without the gnawing of the agouti, the Brazil nut would not be able to break through the extremely hard shell and grow. Brazil nuts (with the shell) Brazil nuts (shelled) Agouti Commensalism is when one organism gets helped and the other is not helped or hurt. (Good for me, doesn't bother you) Sharks are messy eaters. They bite their prey and sling their head from side to side while ripping off chunks of flesh. The ramora swim near the shark often attaching themselves to the shark by a sucker. They eat the food that falls from the shark’s feeding. At least 9 species of moths, mites, and beetles live on sloths, eating the algae on their fur. The bugs lay their eggs on the dung (poop) of the sloths, which provides food for the growing larvae. This relationship does not hurt or help the sloth. Three-toed sloth Army ants travel in large numbers and eat any organism that gets in their way. These vicious creatures have been known to kill tarantulas, lizards, birds, snakes, pigs and sometimes animals as large as horses. Antbirds travel with army ants, eating the small vertebrates and insects which are flushed out by the advancing army. The ants still get plenty to eat and the birds never eat the army ants themselves. Army ants and the Antbird Parasitism is when one of the organisms is helped and the other is hurt. (Good for me, bad for you) The leaf cutter ant parasitic fly lays its eggs only on the backs of leaf-cutter ants targeting porters who are carrying leaves. The larvae burrow into the ant's body after hatching and feed on it, killing it. Leaf cutter ants Very small workers will often ride on the pieces of plant material as they are carried back to the ant nest. They protect the larger workers from a parasitic fly that tries to lay its eggs on the back of the ant's head while it is carrying leaf fragments. The larger ant is unable to defend itself because it will not put down its leaf. Leaf cutter ant with food and a smaller ant for protection Parasitic fly Camouflage is used by organisms to hide. The organisms will blend in to their surroundings. This helps prey escape from predators. Predation is the relationship between the hunter and the hunted. Predator – the organism that hunts for its food Prey – the organism that is hunted Can you find the katydids in the following pictures? Look closely…can you find the bug? Can you find the “walking sticks” in this picture? Did you find all of them??? What animal is hiding here? Did you find the cryptic frog? A leafy sea dragon, photographed off the coast of Australia. Leafy sea dragons have developed flowing appendages and vivid coloration that lets them blend in with the undersea plant life in their environment. Chamaeleo pardalis, a chameleon species found in the forests of Madagascar. Chameleons can produce a wide range of colors and patterns on their skin, but they do this primarily to express mood, not to blend in with different environments. SHOWOFF!!!