Symbiotic Relationships

Ostriches and gazelles feed next to each other. They both watch for predators. Because the visual abilities of the two species are different, they can each identify threats that the other animal may not see as readily. Both species benefit.

• mutualism

• commensalism

• parasitism

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Silverfish live and hunt with army ants and share the prey. They neither help nor harm the ants.

• mutualism

• commensalism

• parasitism

Oxpeckers (bird) feed on the ticks found on a rhinoceros. Both species benefit…the oxpecker gets food and the rhino gets rid of a parasite.

• mutualism

• commensalism

• parasitism

Mistletoe extracts water and nutrients from the spruce tree to the tree's detriment.

• commensalism
• parasitisim
• mutualism

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Barnacles create home sites by attaching themselves to whales. This neither harms nor benefits the whales.

• commensalism
• parasitism
• mutualism

Yucca flowers are pollinated by yucca moths. The moths lay their eggs in the flowers where the larvae hatch and eat some of the developing seeds. Both species benefit.

• commensalism
• parasitism
• mutualism

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Hermit crabs live in shells made and then abandoned by snails. This neither harms nor benefits the snails.

• commensalism
• parasitism
• mutualism

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

As buffalos walk through grass, insects become active and are seen and eaten by cowbirds. This neither harms nor benefits the buffalo.

• commensalism
• parasitism
• mutualism

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Ticks feed on deer blood to the deer's detriment.

• commensalism
• parasitism
• mutualism

Honey guide birds alerts and directs badgers to bee hives. The badgers then expose the hives and feed on the honey first. Then the honey guide bird eats. Both species benefit.

• mutualism
• commensalism
• parasitim

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2