A particular species of a unicellular organism inhabits the intestines of termites,

where the unicellular organisms are protected from predators. Wood that is

ingested by the termites is digested by the unicellular organisms, forming food for the

termites.

Mutualism

Mistletoe grows on trees. It sends its roots into the tree and uses the nutrients that could otherwise be used by the tree. Therefore, the tree does not get to use all the

nutrients.

Parasitism

Lichen species are made up of a fungus that contains either a bacterium

or an alga. The fungus protects the bacterium or alga, and the bacterium or

alga provides food for the fungus.

Mutualism

An American Robin benefits by building its nest in a Red Maple

tree. The tree is unaffected.

Commensalism

The sea fan works as a camouflage for the seahorse, and the sea horse benefits because

of the deception from the predators.

Commensalism

Barnacles live by using long, feathering appendages to sweep the surrounding water for small, free-floating organisms. The critical resource for barnacles is a place to stay. Barnacles can attach to

the surfaces of whales, as well as rocks, ships, and shells. They do not harm the surface to which they attach.

Commensalism

The honey bee gets to eat the pollen from the flower. The

dandelion uses the bee to spread its pollen to another flower.

Mutualism

The tick gets food from the deer without killing it. The deer is

harmed by losing blood to the tick, and possibly by getting an

infected wound.

Parasitism

Birds and mammals eat berries and fruit off of plants in the wild. The birds and mammals derive a food benefit by eating the berries and fruits. The plant

has its seeds dispersed by the animals.

Mutualism

Many species of moss or algae may live on the bark of a tree.

The tree is completely unaffected and the moss or algae has a

place to live.

Commensalism

Female mosquitoes ingest blood from humans and mammals for the

protein to feed their larva. The saliva of the mosquito causes the skin to become irritated and itchy.

Parasitism

Oxpeckers land on rhinos or zebras and eat ticks and other parasites that live on their skin. The oxpeckers get food and the

beasts get pest control.

Mutualism

Commensalism

A few species of pseudo-scorpions disperse by concealing themselves under the wing

covers of large beetles. The pseudo-scorpions gain the advantage of being

dispersed over wide areas while simultaneously being protected from predators. The beetle is, presumably,

unaffected by the presence of the hitchhikers.

Hookworms infect humans by residing in the small intestine and

feeds off of the digested food in the small intestines. As the hookworm

grows larger, the human slowly starves to death.

Parasitism

Lice (small insects that live imbedded in the hair of some animals) feed on the blood of

mammals.

Parasitism

Ladybugs live on plants, eating the aphids and benefiting by getting food, while the plant benefits by being rid of the

aphids.

Mutualism

In Texas, cattle egrets (large white birds) are often found near cattle. They can also be seen feeding on insects that the cattle stir up in the

grass as they walk.

Commensalism

A flea bites a dog drinking its blood supply. The dog gets small

bumps on its skin causing it to itch.

Parasitism

Spider crabs live in shallow areas of the ocean floor, and greenish-brown algae lives on the crabs'

backs, making the crabs blend in with their environment, and

unnoticeable to predators. The algae get a good place to live, and the crab gets camouflage.

Mutualism

Heartworm, whose adults reside in the right side of the heart, in

dogs, feed off of the blood supply. As the worm grows

larger, the dog’s heart is unable to pump enough blood to the rest

of the body to live.

Parasitism

The cleaner fish remove parasitic fish and diseased tissue from larger fish’s scales, gills, or

mouths. The cleaner fish get a meal and the larger fish get

cleaned.

Mutualism