Symbiotic Relationships- Part 1
Name: ________________________________
Core: ________
Symbiotic relationships
Prior Knowledge Questions:
1. What is an interaction? What does it mean to interact with
something?
2. List 2 organisms that belong to 2 different species in the space
below (ex. deer and coyote or Nemo and a sea anemone). Think
about the relationship between these 2 organisms. If an organism
is benefited in the relationship, circle the  next to it. If an
organism is hurt or harmed in the relationship, circle the  next to
it. If an organism is NEITHER harmed nor benefited, circle the
straight face next to it.
Organism #1: _______________________
Organism #2: _______________________
3. Think about your time so far at NFMS (or even wayyyyyyy back to
elementary school!). Do you tend to hang out with a certain
group? Do you fulfill a certain role within your friend group? How
do you and your friends co-exist with (depend on) each other?
DEFEND YOUR ANSWERS!
Symbiotic Relationships- Part 1
What does Untamed Science say about
SYMBIOSIS?
Want to watch the video again?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSmL2F1t81Q
Word Bank:
predators
helped
deadly
mutualistic
prey
symbiotic
two
harmed both
The diver went searching for a clown fish or sea anemone fish. The beautiful
tentacles of the anemone are actually
deadly to most fish.
The food chain describes how
organisms in an ecosystem are
linked together by what they eat.
The tentacles have stinging organs
called nematocysts which fire tiny darts into fish as they brush by.
This stinging ability protects anemones from
predators and helps them to capture
prey for food. But how can clownfish hide in such
a dangerous place?
PAUSE! What do YOU think? Do you know why clownfish hang out
in anemones?
*This is your OPINION! Answers will vary.
Symbiotic Relationships- Part 1
…It’s because clownfish have a symbiotic relationship with anemones that’s SO
important, clownfish are almost always found among anemones!
 Symbiotic relationships are interactions between two DIFFERENT
species that can benefit either one or both species.
Symbiotic relationships are divided up into 3 major categories:
1. Parasitism- benefits one species while the other is harmed.
tick
2. Mutualism-
dog
both species benefit from the relationship.
bird
cow
3. Commensalism- One species benefits, the other species is neither
harmed nor helped.
shark
remora
Symbiotic Relationships- Part 1
BACK TO THE ANEMONE AND CLOWN FISH!
Clown fish are protected from predators by living among the anemone, and in
exchange the clownfish chase away fish and other animals that may harm the
anemone.
This must be a mutualistic symbiotic relationship!
*Describe BOTH HYPOTHESES for why the clown fish isn’t hurt by the
sea anemone in the space below:
Hypothesis #1- The clownfish has an adaptation in which it secretes a layer
of mucus that protects it from the anemone.
Hypothesis #2- The sea anemone has a mucus layer that rubs off onto the
clownfish that builds up on the fish over time.
Which one do you agree with? Why? *This is your OPINION! Answers will
vary.
Consider the Following:
How do the sea anemone and clownfish co-exist with (depend on)
each other? How do they help each other survive? Do they both
need EXACTLY the same things in order to survive? What different
things do they need to survive?
Answers will vary.