Symbiotic

Relationships
In Coral Reefs
By Gabriela McLain
What is Symbiosis?
★ Living arrangements between members of two
different species
★ Includes:
○ Mutualism
○ Commensalism
○ Parasitism
○ Predation
○ Competition
★ There can be positive or negative associations
★ Members are called symbionts
Mutualism
★ Both organisms of different species rely
on another for nutrients, protection and
other life functions
★ Live in close proximity
★ Examples:
○ Coral Polyps and Zooxanthellae
○ Clownfish and sea anemones
Coral Polyps and Zooxanthellae
○ Reefs begin when a coral polyp attaches itself to a rock on the sea floor,
then divides, or buds, into thousands of clones. Inside each coral polyp
lives a single-celled algae called zooxanthellae.
○ The zooxanthellae capture sunlight and perform photosynthesis,
providing oxygen and other nutrients to the coral polyp that aid in its
survival.
○ In return, the zooxanthellae is provided with the carbon dioxide expelled
by the polyp that it needs to undergo photosynthesis. The presence of the
zooxanthellae also provide colored pigments to help protect the coral's
white skeleton from sunlight.
Commensalism
★ An association between two organisms
in which one benefits and the other
derives neither benefit nor harm
★ Examples:
○ Pocilloporidae coral and gall crabs
○ Petroglyph shrimp and Porites
lobata
Pocilloporidae Coral and Gall Crabs
★ Coral gall crabs are found hosted by the coral family
pocilloporidae, genera pocillopora, stylophora, and
seriatopora.
★ These shrimp feed on mucus and tissue picked off the
coral by host chelae.
★ This hosting initiates gall development in corals up to 35
m in depth.
★ There is no scientific evidence that suggests that the
consumption of this mucus by the grabs is a significant
depletion of resources, thus their relationship is a
successful example of commensalism.
Parasitism
★ A relationship between two different
organisms where the parasite harms the host
★ The parasite benefits at the expense of the
host
○ Examples:
■ Sea stars and worms
■ Isopods and shrimp
Isopods and Shrimp
★ Isopods are a form of aquatic crustacean that enters the shrimp gill chamber
under the carapace
★ It destroys the shrimp's ability to reproduce by sucking its blood
★ The isopod benefits while the shrimp slowly dies
Predation
★ The interaction where one
organism, the predator, kills and
eats another organism, its prey
★ Examples:
○ Barnacles and coral polyps
○ White tipped reef shark
White Tipped Reef Shark
★ White Tipped Reef Sharks are the most commonly found species of
shark found near coral reefs
★ They are present on coral reefs during daylight hours and are known for
staying in caves or undercover
★ White Tipped Reef Sharks feed nocturnally on a variety of animals, and
they will hunt what they can find
★ They hunt in a pack, preying on sleeping fish
★ Are known to go after prey deep within the reef
Competition
★ A relationship where one or both individuals
are harmed
★ Sometimes competition is between members of
the same species, such as two males competing
for a mate
★ Examples:
○ Coral and sponges
Coral and Sponges
★ Sponges are very abundant in coral reefs
★ If they become too successful they take needed food
and other resources from the corals that make up the
reef
★ Sponges may outcompete corals for resources in the
short term, but if too many corals die, the reef itself
becomes damaged
★ This is bad for the sponges, which may themselves
begin to die off until the reef is balanced again