Animal Relationships

By Abraham Zetino

Mutualism

Mutualism is when both organisms benefit from the relationship.

Ex: A rhino is not irritated because birds are eating fleas/bugs off of him and the birds get a free meal and a free transport ride.

Parasitism

Parasitism occurs when one organism benefits from the relationship while the other organism is harmed.

Ex: Fleas on a dog

Commensalism

Commensalism happens when one organism benefits from the relationship and the other organism is not harmed.

Ex: Fish have a home in reefs and the reefs are not harmed.

Scavenger

Scavenger is an organism that eats other dead organisms.

Ex: Vulture scavenging for dead food.

Predator/Prey

Predator is when its hunting a prey. Prey is when its hiding from the

predator. Ex: Lion is hunting the giraffe.

Camouflage

Camouflage occurs when a predator is hiding to snatch up prey or when a prey is hiding from a predator.

Ex: A moth blending in with a tree.

Decomposer

Decomposer occurs when an organism decomposes another organism.

Ex: Fungi eat dead matter.

Competition

Competition happens when two organisms fight over the same resources.

Ex: Lion and cheetah fighting for food, ants fighting for a crumb, &

Environments

Tundra Forest Rain Forest Salt Water Fresh Water Desert

Tundra

Parasitism - The liver tapeworm cysts is a parasite in animals such as moose, caribou, & wolves.

Commensalism - Caribou digs in the snow to eat on grass and the arctic fox digs in the soil to find mammals to eat.

Mutualism – Fungus and green alga. Scavenger – Snowy Owls will follow polar bears and

scavenge for scraps from the polar bears kill. Predator/Prey – Arctic fox preying on deer. Decomposer – Fungi and Mushrooms decompose matter

around them. Competition – An arctic fox and a snowy owl fighting for a

dead ermine. Camouflage – A rabbit having a white coat to blend in the

snow.

Forest

Mutualism – Bees spreading pollen for a flower and bees get to have the nectar from the flower.

Commensalism – A few orchids growing epiphytically on a tree.

Parasitism – Fleas living on a deer. Scavenger – A bird looking for Predator/Prey- Fox hunting a rabbit. Camouflage – A moth blending in with the bark of a

tree. Decomposers – Termites eating the fallen down

trees. Competition – A fox and a lynx fighting over a rabbit.

Rain Forest

Mutualism – Plover bird eats leeches from crocodiles mouth and crocodile gets clean teeth.

Commensalism – Bugs lays eggs in a sloth’s stomach while the sloth sleeps for a long period of time.

Parasitism – Leeches sucking blood from a crocodile. Scavenger – A Tiger eating a dead toucan. Decomposers – Termites eating the fallen trees. Predator/Prey – A matamata can snatch up fish with its

camouflage appearance of a leaf. Camouflage – A clouded leopard has a dark black coat to

hide in the shadows. Competition – A tiger and a leopard fighting over a dead

bird.

Salt Water

Mutualism – Remora cleans the shark by eating scraps of food off and the shark gets a clean body.

Parasitism – Isopods attach to the hosts’ body and stay attached to them.

Commensalism – Clown fish making homes in coral reefs. Scavenger – Zooplankton eat dead scraps of food

floating in the water. Predator/Prey – A shark hunting for fish. Camouflage – Reef fish can blend in with the reef during

the daylight. Decomposers – Fungi decomposes matter around them. Competition – A shark and a killer whale fighting over a

dead sea lion.

Fresh Water

Mutualism – Algae and fungi work together to form communities called lichens.

Parasitism – Icthyophirius multifilis infect nearly all freshwater fish.

Commensalism – Pondweed provide protection and shelter to numerous species of fish.

Scavenger – Fish eat scraps of food in water. Predator/Prey – Fish eat plankton. Camouflage – A brown colored fish blending in

with the murky water. Competition – Two crawfish fighting over the same

piece of dead fish.

Desert

Mutualism – Bees pollinating flowers and bees harvesting nectar from the flowers.

Commensalism – A fringe-toed lizard having a shelter from a rat hole while the rat has moved on.

Parasitism – A flea is a parasite on a coyote. Scavenger – A vulture scavenging for dead hare/rabbits. Predator/Prey – Mountain lion hunts for hare, rabbits, &

mule deer. Decomposers – Worms eating dead materials in the soil

and getting nutrients from it. Competition – Two wolves fighting over a dead rabbit. Camouflage – A snake blending in with the ground.