Symbiotic Relationships

 Differences

Parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism are all symbiotic relationships but they each effect the pairs of organisms differently.

• Parasitism is when one species benefits and they other is harmed. An example of parasitism is a dog and fleas. The fleas are benefiting by living off of the dog, but the dog is being harmed in the process.
• Mutualism is when both species benefit from each other. An example of mutualism is a hummingbird and the Passiflora flower. The hummingbird is getting energy from the flower while the hummingbird pollinates the flower.
• Commensalism is when one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. An example of commensalism is barnacles and a whale. The barnacles benefit from the whale by having a place to live and getting the nutrients they need, the whale isn't affected by this.
   

Similarities

Parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism are more different than they are similar but they still have a couple similarities.

• They all involve two organisms.
• All of these symbiotic relationships can occur anywhere.
 

Examples of Each Symbiotic Relationship in the Tropical Rainforest Biome

Commensalism- Orchids growing off of rotting tree trunks. This is commensalism because the orchids are benefiting by getting nutrients and a place to live while the dead tree is already dead and not being effected.

Mutualism-  Capuchin monkeys lap nectar from flowersin trees. The monkeys benefit because this is apart of their varied diet and the flowers benefit because the monkeys get pollen on their faces and this pollinates the flowers.

Parasitism- The strangler fig and the trees that make up the rain forest. The strangler fig benefits by germinating in the tree's leaves, the strangler fig then sends down aerial roots that reach all the way down to the ground and act as if it's "strangling" the tree, this is in fact how they got their name. The tree is harmed and gets killed.