A
What are the three types of symbiosis you learned about?
Parasitism, commensalism, mutualism
A tick feeds on a dog's blood. What type of symbiosis is this?
Parasitism
In mutualism, does one organism or do both organisms benefit?
Both
A barnacle attaches to a whale and gets transportation. The whale is unaffected. What type is this?
Commensalism
What is a parasite?
An organism that benefits while harming the other organism
Bees get nectar from flowers while pollinating them. What type of symbiosis is this?
Mutualism
How does a tapeworm benefit from living inside an animal?
Gets nutrients/food or shelter
In commensalism, what happens to the organism that does not benefit?
It is unaffected
A flea feeds on a dog and causes itching. Which organism benefits, and which is harmed?
Flea benefits; dog is harmed
How is parasitism different from mutualism?
Parasitism harms one; mutualism benefits both
A bird eats insects stirred up by grazing cattle. The cattle are unaffected. Identify the relationship and explain why.
Commensalism; bird benefits, cattle unaffected
Why can a parasite harm its host without immediately killing it?
It may need the host as a continuing food source
Fungi help plant roots absorb nutrients, and the plant provides sugars to the fungi. Explain how both benefit.
Plant gets nutrients; fungi get sugars
A small fish eats scraps of food left by a shark. The shark is unaffected. Classify the relationship and give evidence.
Commensalism; fish benefits, shark unaffected
What evidence would help a scientist determine whether a relationship is mutualism or commensalism?
Evidence showing whether the second organism benefits, is harmed, or is unaffected
A parasite takes nutrients from its host over time. Predict one possible effect on the host.
Weaker health or death.
A bird builds a nest in a tree without affecting the tree. Why is this commensalism instead of mutualism?
Only the bird benefits.
If a pollinator population decreases, how might this affect the population of flowering plants that depend on it?
The flower population may decrease
Two organisms live closely together. One benefits, but scientists have not studied the effects on the other. Why can't they classify the relationship yet?
The effect on the second organism is unknown
A bird removes ticks from a large animal and eats them. Identify the relationship and explain the benefits to both organisms.
Mutualism; bird gets food and animal loses parasites
A parasite population grows quickly. Predict how this could affect the host population over several generations. Would it increase, decrease, or stay the same?
Population may decrease.
Scientists find that Species A benefits from Species B, but Species B's response is unknown. What additional evidence is needed about species B to classify their relationship?
Study Species B's survival or health.
A plant depends on a particular pollinator to reproduce. Predict two possible effects if the pollinator disappears.
Less pollination and fewer new plants
An organism gets food and shelter from another organism, but the second organism is neither helped nor harmed. Explain why this is commensalism, not mutualism.
Only one benefits; the other is unaffected
A scientist observes two species living together and finds that at least one of them benefits. What additional evidence could help determine whether this relationship is consistently mutualistic?
Observe the relationship to see if the other animal also benefits.