Symbiosis

Match the word with the definition Parasitism One species benefits and the other is harmed Mutualism Both species benefit Commensalism One species benefits and the other is unaffected Identify the type of symbiotic relationship Use the following terms: parasitism, commensalism, mutualism Barnacles create home sites by attaching themselves to whales. This relationship neither harms nor benefits the whales. commensalism A wasp lays its eggs on a caterpillar. When the wasp eggs hatch, the larvae will eat the caterpillar and kill it. parasitism When a snail grows out of its shell it will find a new one and leave the old one behind. Hermit crabs live in shells made and then abandoned by snails. commensalism As bison walk through the grass, insects become active and are seen and eaten by cowbirds. The relationship neither harms nor benefits the bison. commensalism A cuckoo may lay its eggs in a warbler’s next. The cuckoo’s young will knock the warbler’s eggs out of the nest and the warbler will raise the cuckoo’s young. parasitism A sparrow will build its nest under the nest of an osprey. The smaller birds get protection because other predators will not mess with the osprey. commensalism Mistletoe extracts water and nutrients from a spruce tree. The spruce tree is harmed parasitism Remoras attach themselves to a shark’s body. They then travel with the shark and feed on the leftover food scraps from the shark’s meals. The relationship neither harms nor benefits the shark. commensalism Oxpeckers feed on the ticks found on a rhinoceros. The oxpeckers get a meal and the rhinoceros is helped by the removal of the ticks. mutualism A flea feeds on a mouse’s blood and harms the mouse. parasitism Ostriches and gazelles feed next to each other. They both watch for predators and alert each other to danger. Because the visual abilities of the two species are different, they can identify threats that the other animal would not see as well. mutualism Heartworms develop inside a dog’s heart. The worms cause health problems and may result in death. parasitism The stork uses its saw-like bill to cut up the dead animals it eats. As a result, the dead animal carcass is accessible to some bees for food and egg laying. commensalism Honey guide birds alert and direct badgers to bee hives. The badgers then expose the hives and feed on the honey first. Next the honey bird eats. Both species benefit. mutualism Orchids grow inside a bromeliad plant. The orchid obtains water and nutrient from the bromeliad, but does not help or harm it. commensalism