Symbiotic Relationships Flashcards
Symbiosis
Symbiosis describes any relationship between two different species of organisms which live together.
Name the three symbiotic relationships
- Mutualism
- Commensalism
- Parasitism
Mutalism
In this relationship, two organisms of different species live closely together and both benefit. In extreme cases, neither can live without the other.
The remoras swim very close to the sharks, feeding off scraps of food dropped by the shark and also gaining some protection from predators. The remora removes parasites from the shark’s skin and even inside the mouth, which benefits the shark.
Cattle Egret and Cow- Mutalism
The egret perches on the cow’s back as it feeds on insects, especially ticks, that can harm the cow. The egret is obtaining a source of food and the cow benefits by having blood sucking organisms removed from its body.
Leguminous Plants and Root Nodules (bacteria)- Mutalism
Leguminous plants, e.g. peas and beans, have nitrogen fixing bacteria living in swellings on their roots called root nodules. The bacteria use nitrogen in the air in the soil to produce inorganic nitrogenous compounds. The plants GAIN nitrogenous compounds which they use to manufacture proteins. The bacteria gain food, (which the plants produce during photosynthesis) and protection.
Commensalism
This is a relationship between two species in which one clearly benefits and the other is not harmed nor does it benefit.
Cattle Egret and Cow- Commensalism
When the cow walks through grass, it may cause insects there to fly out, this provides food for the egret perched on the cow’s back. In this case, the egret gains food, while the cow is unaffected.
Epiphytes- Commensalism
Epiphytes are plants, e.g. orchids, which grow NON-PARASITICALLY on other plants, usually trees, which they use for support since their roots do not enter the soil. They usually grow high up on the branches where they are close to sunlight, have very little shade and are out of the reach of herbivores on the ground.
Parasitism
a parasite is an organism which lives and feeds on or inside another organism, which is called the host. The parasite gains while the host is harmed. Thus in parasitism, one organism gains while the other suffers or is harmed.
Ticks, flees, leeches- Parasitism
Parasites which live on the outer surface of their hosts are called ectoparasites. e.g. Ticks, flees and leeches feed on the blood of their hosts such as dogs, cattle and fish. The parasite gains by obtaining a source of food in form of blood and the host loses blood and become susceptible to diseases.
Dodder- Parasitism
Dodder (love vine) is a parasitic plant with long yellow stems that twist around other plants from small shrubs to tall trees. Outgrowths from the stems penetrate into the host’s phloem and absorb sugars and amino acids. This causes reduced growth of thehost.
Two types of parasites.
Parasites which live on the outer surface of their hosts are called ectoparasites.
Parasites that live within a host are called endoparasites.
What is a predator/prey relationship?
A predator is an organism that kills and feeds on another organism. The prey is the organism that the predator eats. A predator/prey relationship is when one organism kills and feeds on the other.
Apex predator?
An apex predator is an organsim that is at the top of a food chain and has no predators.
Benefits of a predator/prey relationship?
they provide equilibrium within an ecosystem and they serve as biological controls.
