Symbiotic Relationships

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Symbiotic Relationships
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Symbiosis

• Close long-term relationship between two or more
  species.
• Three types
• Commensalism
• Mutualism
• Parasitism

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Mutualism

• A symbiotic relationship where both organisms
  benefit.

Rhino Cow bird
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Examples

• An unidentified crab that carries a venomous sea
  urchin for protection. The crab uses its rear
  legs to hold the urchin in place. The urchin
  receives transportation

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The Sponge Crab is wearing a "hat" that consists
of a living sponge colony. The sponge gains
transportation while the crab gains a disguise.
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The Tomato Anemone Fish lives among the Sea
Anemone. It gains protection from predators while
the anemone gains dinner.
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Commensalism

• One organism benefits and the other is unharmed
  or unaffected

Remoras live very close to sharks. The shark does
not bother the remora, but the remora eats the
leftover food the shark drops or does not eat.
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Examples

• Eagle Rays have powerful jaws which they use to
  crush open conchs and other shellfish, which they
  find living on sandy bottoms. Jacks have often
  been observed to follow rays around, hoping to
  make a meal of small fish that are flushed from
  under the sand, while the ray is digging for
  food.
• Barnacles attach themselves to the shells of sea
  turtles. The barnacles receive a home and
  transportation.

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This Alpheid Shrimp uses its strong claws like a
bulldozer, to create a burrow in the sand. But
the shrimp is nearly blind, and relies upon its
partner, a sharp-eyed goby, to warn of danger.
When a potential predator approaches, both
animals disappear quickly into the burrow.
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This transparent Philippine Shrimp lives on the
surface of bubble coral. It retreats into the
narrow spaces between the bubble-like vesicles of
the coral, whenever it feels threatened.
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Small fish can often be found living among the
tentacles of large jellyfish. The stinging cells
of the jellyfish's tentacles do not appear to
harm the little fish, but do protect it against
larger fish that might want to eat it.
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Parasitism

• One organism benefits and the other is harmed
• Organism that benefits is the parasite
• Organism that is harmed is the host

Mistletoe tree
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Examples

• A tick, parasite, feeds off another organism such
  as a dog, host.
• Tapeworms live in the intestines of cats, where
  they absorb nutrients from the food cats eat.
• A bacteria causes your throat to be sore.
• Parasites on a mushroom sponge

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Isopods are crustaceans, some of which are
parasites. Isopods known as "fish lice" attach
themselves to their host and feed on its body
fluids.
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A Sea Lamprey, a primitive fish, attaches to the
bodies of native fish and feeds on the fish's
body fluids. This often leads to the death of the
native fish.
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• A special Thanks to David Hall for the use of his
  pictures.
• www.seaphotos.com
• Sea Lamprey courtesy of
• www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca