2. BIOLOGY
• STANDARD 2.0:
– The student will investigate the interactions of
organisms within their environment through different
relationships, population dynamics, and patterns of
behavior.
• LEARNING EXPECTATION 2.1:
– Compare and contrast the different types of symbiotic
relationships.
• PERFORMANCE INDICATOR LEVEL 1:
– Identify Commensalism, Parasitism, and Mutualism,
given a scenario with examples.
• Link to TN Curriculum Standards
3. This Standard May Be Difficult To
Teach Because…
• Mutualism and Commensalism share
similar concepts, and can thus be
confusing to students.
• This may be the first time students are
exposed to the three distinct groups of
symbiotic relationships.
4. • SYMBIOSIS is the interaction between 2
different organisms living together
– HOST- usually the LARGER of the 2
organisms
– SYMBIONT- usually the SMALLER member
5. THE THREE SYMBIOTIC
RELATIONSHIPS ARE...
PARASITISM MUTUALISM COMMENSALISM
EXTRA PRACTICE ACTIVITY
GO BACK TO SPECIFIC QUESTION
Click on a Picture Below to Learn About the Relationship
EXIT
6. PARASITISM
• Is a relationship where the Symbiont lives
in/on the Host
• The Symbiont (or Parasite) BENEFITS
• The Host is HARMED
• For example, the tick in the picture above
is a parasite. It benefits by extracting blood
from its human host. The human is
harmed because
EXIT
7. • Is a relationship between the host and a
symbiont, where both organisms benefit and
neither is harmed.
• The relationship can be long or short term.
• For example, in the photo above, the host flower
benefits by being pollinated by the traveling
butterfly. The symbiont butterfly benefits from the
nectar that it extracts from the flower.
Mutualism
EXIT
9. COMMENSALISM
• Is a relationship between the host and
symbiont, where the symbiont benefits and
the host is neither helped nor harmed.
• The symbiont benefits by receiving
transportation, housing, and/or nutrition.
• For example, in the photo above the symbiont
barnacles receive transportation from the
host whale. The host whale is neither helped
nor harmed by the barnacles.
EXIT
10. EXTRA PRACTICE ACTIVITY
In the following activity, you will be
given a picture scenario. Identify and
select the symbiotic relationship
(parasitism, mutualism, or commensalism)
represented in the picture.
EXIT
11. ADVANCE TO NEXT SLIDE
RETURN TO PREVIOUS SLIDE
GET HELP, DEFINITION
QUIT ACTIVITY
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SLIDE NAVIGATION INSTRUCTIONS
12. In this photo the “cleaner fish”
receives nourishment by dining
off of the parasites and
remaining food debris in the
eel’s mouth. Is this an example
of…
PARASITISM
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISM
HELP EXIT
15. Clownfish are frequently found in
the tentacles of sea anemones. Sea
anemones capture their prey by
paralyzing them with their
tentacles. However, the clownfish
produces a mucus that prevents
the tentacles from harming it. By
dwelling amongst the tentacles the
clownfish receives a protected
home. This relationship is an
example of …
PARASITISM MUTUALISM COMMENSALISM
HELP EXIT
18. The birds in the picture are
munching on tiny parasitic
insects located on the rhino. The
relationship between the birds
and the rhino is an example of…
EXIT
PARASITISM
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISM
HELP
21. Lampreys are primitive fish with
limited digestive systems. They
attach to and feed on the body
fluids of fish with more advanced
digestive systems, often leading to
the death of the host fish. This
relationship is an example of…
EXIT
PARASITISM
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISM
HELP
24. Orchids grow on the branches
of high trees. These orchids get
more water and sunlight than
those on the ground. The tree is
unaffected by the orchid’s
presence. This relationship is an
example of…
EXIT
PARASITISM
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISM
HELP
