Symbiosis Card Game

OBJECTIVE

NHA Explain common patterns of interdependence and interrelationships of living things.

Vocabulary

SymbiosisRelationshipMutualism

CommensalismParasitism

MATERIALS

Symbiotic Relationship game cards

Can We Be Friends?: Nature's Partners (Nature’s Treasures) by Alexandra Wright

Sandwich bags

Symbiotic Relationships worksheet

PROCEDURE

1. This lesson does require some previous knowledge of symbiotic relationships. Before the lesson you need to prepare the game pieces. Make copies of the Symbiotic Relationship game cardsand cut apart the 30 cards set. Put each set of 30 in a baggie

2. What is symbiosis?(a relationship in which at least one of the organism is benefiting/getting something) What are the three main types of symbiotic relationships?

Mutualism - Both organisms benefit from the relationship.

Commensalism - one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Parasitism - one organism of the relationship benefits while the other is harmed.

3. Read a couple relationships from Can We Be Friends?: Nature's Partners (Nature’s Treasures) by Alexandra Wright and ask students what type of relationship is being represented.

4. Divide the students into groups of 3. Pass out one set of cards (30) in the plastic baggie to each group. Divide up the cards equally so each student has 10 cards each.

The game plays as follows:

The object of the game is to be the first to get rid of your cards.

The shark card is laid to begin the game.

The player who has the match to the shark (the remora) lays next. (Students should use their Symbiotic Relationships worksheet as a reference)

The player who made the match now plays another card.

If a player has a match in their hand, the player may lay those matching cards until he/she runs out of matches or cards. (For example, if a player has the shark AND remora, the player lays them both and then gets another turn to lay either one card or another pair he/she might have.

The first player who gets rid of all their cards wins.

Symbiotic Relationships

Ostriches and Gazelles (Commensalism – Happy/Doesn’t Matter)

Ostriches and gazelles eat next to each other. They both watch for danger.

Cuckoos and Warblers (Parasitism – Happy/Sad)

A cuckoo bird will kill the Warbler bird's eggs and lay its’ own eggs in the warbler’s nest. The Warbler will then take care of the cuckoo eggs.

Mistletoe and Spruce trees (Parasitism – Happy/Sad)

The Mistletoe plant takes water and nutrients from the spruce tree as it grows in up through the tree branches.

Oxpeckers and Rhinoceroses (Mutualism – Happy/Happy)

The Oxpecker bird gets a free meal when it eats the Ticks that drink the Rhinoceros' blood.

Remoras and Sharks (Commensalism – Happy/Doesn’t Matter)

A remora fish attaches itself to a shark so it can eat the scraps of food left by the shark. It does not harm the shark when it attaches.

Wrasse and Bass (Mutualism – Happy/Happy)

A wrasse fish gets a free dinner by eating the blood-sucking bugs that are on the bass fish's body.

Fleas and Mice (Parasitism – Happy/Sad)

A flea hooks onto a mouse and drinks the mouse’s blood.

Barnacles and Whales (Commensalism – Happy/Doesn’t Matter)

Barnacles attach themselves to whales so they can get a free meal, by eating small animals in the water, as the whale swims around the ocean.

Bison and Cowbirds (Commensalism – Happy/Doesn’t Matter)

A bison walks through the grass, making bugs fly up in the air. The cowbird follows the bison and eats the bugs.

Storks and Bees (Mutualism – Happy/Happy)

The stork uses its sharp beak to cut up the dead animals it eats. Afterwards, bees come along and lay their eggs in the dead meat so they can hatch.

Hermit Crabs and Snails (Commensalism – Happy/Doesn’t Matter)

Hermit crabs live in snail shells that the snails have left behind.

Honey Guide birds and Badgers (Mutualism – Happy/Happy)

Honey Guide birds show the badgers where the beehives are. The badgers rip open the hives and eat the delicious honey. Afterwards, the Honey Guide birds eat.

Ticks and Deer (Parasitism – Happy/Sad)

Ticks hook onto deer and drink their blood.

Silverfish and Ants (Commensalism – Happy/Doesn’t Matter)

Silverfish bugs live and hunt with army ants. They share the prey.

Yucca flowers and Yucca moths (Mutualism – Happy/Happy)

Yucca flowers are pollinate by yucca moths. The moths lay their eggs in the flowers and the eggs hatch. The larvae eat some of the seeds and spread them around.