Symbiotic Relationships

Mutualism

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is not helped or harmed

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed

Parasitic example

A tick drinks blood from a dog. The dog loses blood and gets rashes.

predator

An animal that hunts other animals for food

Predatation

An interaction in which one organism kills another for food.

host

An organism that a parasite lives on or in- the larger organism in the relationship.

parasite

An organism that invades another organism and feeds off it

prey

Animal hunted or caught for food

Commensalism example

Barnacle attaches to a whale, the whale does not seem to mind.

Reasons for Symbiosis

Food, Shelter, Transportation, Resources, Protection, Cleaning

mutualism example

Goby fish and shrimp- Both get a home and the shrimp gets a guide.

Symbiont

The smaller organism in a symbiotic relationship.

competition

in nature, two or more organisms needing the same resources (water, food, shelter)