Organisms occupy what are called niches.

A niche includes the physical space in which they live, how

they use the resources that are in that space, and how they interact with other organisms in that space.
The interaction among organisms within or between overlapping niches can be characterized into five
types of relationships: competition, predation, commensalism, mutualism and parasitism. The last three
subtypes are classically defined as relationships exhibiting symbiosis, but predation and competition can
also be considered as forms of symbiosis. Symbiosis refers to a close relationship in which one or both
organisms obtain a benefit.
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Competition & Predation
Predation is when one organism eats another organism to obtain nutrients. The organism that is eaten is
called the prey. Examples of predation are owls that eat mice, and lions that eat gazelles. Competition is
when individuals or populations compete for the same resource, and can occur within or between species.
When organisms compete for a resource (such as food or building materials) it is called consumptive or
exploitative competition. When they compete for territory, it is called interference competition. When
they compete for new territory by arriving there first, it is called preemptive competition. An example is
lions and hyenas that compete for prey.
Commensalism
Commensalism is a relationship in which one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor
harmed. Examples are barnacles that grow on whales and other marine animals. The whale gains no
benefit from the barnacle, but the barnacles gain mobility, which helps them evade predators, and are
exposed to more diverse feeding opportunities. There are four basic types of commensal relationships.
Chemical commensalism occurs when one bacteria produces a chemical that sustains another bacteria.
Inquilinism is when one organism lives in the nest, burrow, or dwelling place of another species.
Metabiosis is commensalism in which one species is dependent on the other for survival. Phoresy is when
one organism temporarily attaches to another organism for the purposes of transportation.
Parasitism
Parasitism is a relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is harmed, but not
always killed. The organism that benefits is called the parasite, and the one that is harmed is the host.
Parasitism is different from parasitoidism, which is when the host is always killed, such as when one
organism lays its egg inside another organism that is later eaten by the hatchlings. Parasites can be
ectoparasites -- such as ticks, fleas, and leeches -- that live on the surface of the host. Parasites can also be
endoparasites -- such as intestinal worms that live inside the host. Endoparasites can be further
categorized into intercellular parasites, that live in the space between cells, or intracellular parasites,
which live inside of cells. There is also something called hyperparasitism, which is when a parasite is

infected by another parasite, such as a microorganism living in a flea, which lives on a dog. Lastly, a
relationship called social parasitism is exemplified by an ant species that does not have worker ants,
living among another ant species that do, by using the host species workers.
Mutualism
Mutualism is a relationship in which both species benefit. Mutualistic interaction patterns occur in three
forms. Obligate mutualism is when one species cannot survive apart from the other. Diffusive mutualism
is when one organism can live with more than one partner. Facultative mutualism is when one species can
survive on its own under certain conditions. On top of these, mutualistic relationships have three general
purposes. Trophic mutualism is exemplified in lichens, which consist of fungi and either algae or
cyanobacteria. The fungi's partners provide sugar from photosynthesis and the fungi provide nutrients
from digesting rock. Defensive mutualism is when one organism provides protection from predators while
the other provides food or shelter: an example is ants and aphids. Dispersive mutualism is when one
species receives food in return for transporting the pollen of the other organism, which occurs between
bees and flowers.

Ants and Aphids..

Ants and aphids share a well-documented relationship of mutualism. Ants feed on the sugary honeydew
left behind by aphids. In exchange, the ants protect the aphids from predators and parasites. In fact, honey
ants will go to unusual lengths to ensure the health of the aphids in their care..

Parasitism Defined

The Tomato Hornworm

In the photo, a tomato hornworm is covered

We have all heard of parasites. Humans are
with cocoons of pupating braconid wasps. The
occasionally infected with parasites such as
braconid wasp is considered a parasitoid of the
tapeworms, round worms, mosquitoes and
hornworm because itcauses the hornworm to
leeches. Parasitism is a biological relationship die as it pupates. By the time the wasps
in which one species benefits; while harming
undergo metamorphosis, all of the hosts insides
the other and can occur in the smallest
have been digested, thus by the time they are
biolgoical niche. Because the parasite needs the ready to pupate, the caterpillar will die. While
host to remain alive, it is typically advantageous this may be detrimental to the tomato
for the parasite NOT to kill its host, however
hornworm, it is considered beneficial for
there are examples of when death of the host
gardeners...as the tomato hornworm can be a
occurs. An example of this is seen in the photo signifant pest. Parasitism usually connotes a
below.
negative feeling; however as seen in this case,
it can be considered beneficial.
1. Introduce vocabulary terms related to ecological interactions and symbiosis.

Explain that in this activity students will use a series of videos, images, and scenarios to
identify and discuss examples of ecological and symbiotic relationships in the ocean. Write
the following terms on the board: competition, predation, symbiosis, mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism. Do not include the definitions yet. First, ask students to
identify the root words and brainstorm what types of ecological and symbiotic relationships
the terms describe. Then, review the definitions of the terms. Point out that the
term symbiosis is an overarching term for mutualism, commensalism, and parasitismand
that the ecological relationships predation and competition are not generally considered to
be symbiotic.

competitionwhen two or more organisms rely on the same environmental

resource

predationbehavior of one animal feeding on another

symbiosisthe close relationship of two dissimilar organisms

mutualisma symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit

commensalisma symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and one

does not benefit but is unharmed

parasitisma symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and one is

harmed

2. Build background about National Geographic Crittercam.

Explain to students that they will watch footage from a National Geographic project called
Crittercam. Crittercams goal is to help researchers understand the day-to-day lives and
ecological relationships of different species. Scientists fit wild animals with a GPS tracker
and a combination video and audio recorder with environmental data instruments to
measure such things as depth, temperature, and accelerationwhich allow the study of
animal behavior without interference by human observers. Ask students to think about the
benefits of studying animal behavior and ecological interactions without interference by
human observers.
3. Have students use a Crittercam video to identify ecological relationships.
Show students the National Geographic video Fish Thieves Take Rare Seals Prey (3.5
minutes), in which an endangered Hawaiian monk seal preys upon and competes for fish
and invertebrates on the seafloor at 80 meters (262 feet) deep. Ask: What is the ecological

relationship between the monk seal and the octopus/eel/trigger fish?(predator/prey)

Ask: What is the ecological relationship between the monk seal and the
jacks/sharks? (competition) Ask students to again think about and discuss the benefits of
studying animal behavior and ecological interactions without interference by human
observers. Elicit from students that Crittercam allows researchers to examine the behavior
and interactions of marine species that they normally would be unable to observe.
4. Have students view videos to identify symbiotic relationships.
Show students the three videos of different marine species interactions. After each video,
have the class identify and discuss the symbiotic relationships they observed.

Caribbean Cleaners (2.5 minutes)mutualism

Giving Fish a Bath (5.5 minutes)parasitism

Clownfish and Sea Anemone Partnership (1.5 minutes)mutualism

Ask: What type of symbiotic relationship was not shown in the videos? (commensalism)
5. Use a National Geographic image to explore commensalism and discuss the
origins of Crittercam.
Display the image lemon shark in the resource carousel and have students observe it
closely. Ask: Other than the shark, are there any other organisms you see? Elicit from
students that the shark and the remoras, the smaller fish below the shark, have a symbiotic
relationship called commensalism, where the remoras benefit from holding onto the shark,
but neither species is harmed. Tell students that this commensal relationship is why Greg
Marshall, marine biologist and filmmaker, invented Crittercam. In 1986, a shark approached
him during a dive near Belize. Marshall noticed a remora clinging to a shark, and as he
watched the shark disappear, it occurred to him that if he could put a camera in the place of
the remora, he could see the shark's behavior unfold without disturbing the shark. Explain
that with Crittercam, Marshall learned that remoras attach themselves to predatory fish like
sharks for two reasons: a free ride and protection due to hanging onto a feared predator.
The shark is not affected in the process since remoras eat only leftover food from the shark.
6. Have students read statements and identify types of ecological interactions.
Give each student a copy of the Symbiotic Interactions worksheet. Read aloud the
directions. Tell them that they should be able to provide reasons for their choices. Discuss
the answers as a class. Have students explain why they classified the different scenarios as

one type of symbiosis and not the others. Ask: How do ecological relationships shape the
marine ecosystem? Why is it important to identify and understand these relationships?

Informal Assessment

Use the provided answer key to check students' completed worksheet for accuracy. Ask
students to orally explain why they labeled each mutualism, commensalism, orparasitism.