Answer: 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.
How is a shark and fish Commensalism?
A marine example of commensalism would be a Whale Shark and a Remora, the Remora stays under the shark’s belly and catches and excess food that the shark has left behind. The shark is benefiting the Remora because it is basically feeding the it.
What do sharks interact with?
Over the ages, these fish have co-evolved with the organisms they interact with, producing a variety of relationships. Sharks prey on some species and are themselves the prey of other species. Outside of that, sharks have commensal, parasitic and mutualistic relationships with other organisms in their ecosystem.
Do sharks have a symbiotic relationship?
Sharks are predators, but their relationships with different species can go far beyond predator-prey interactions. In fact, sharks have thriving relationships with a host of species… some are beneficial to the shark and some, not so much. These relationships are known as symbiosis.
What type of relationship is shark and remora fish?
mutualism
Another example of mutualism can be seen with the Leopard shark and remora fish that swim next to it, sometimes attached to the body. The remoras swim very close to the sharks, feeding off scraps of food dropped by the shark and also gaining some protection from predators.
What is the relationship between a pilot fish and a shark?
The pilot fish’s relationship with sharks is a mutualist one; the pilot fish gains protection from predators, while the shark gains freedom from parasites.
Can sharks and fish be friends?
Pilot Fish
Like remora, they feed on the leftover food from a shark’s meal. Unlike remora, they do not suction themselves to the shark, just swim alongside them. Sailors have even reported that sharks and pilot fish act like close friends!
How do sharks interact with their environment?
Sharks keep ocean ecosystems in balance
Sharks are the apex predators in marine ecosystems, which means they have few natural predators and feed on animals below them in the food web. Sharks limit the abundance of their prey, which then affects the prey of those animals, and so on throughout the food web.
How does the relationship of remora fish and shark affect their survival?
The remora receives more than a convenient food source; the sharks protect them from predators and give them free transportation throughout the oceans. Remoras keep the waters clear of scraps around the shark, preventing the development of unhealthy organisms near the shark.
What are 5 examples of mutualism?
Here are eight examples of mutualistic relationships.
- Pistol shrimps and gobies.
- Aphids and ants.
- Woolly bats and pitcher plants.
- Coral and algae.
- Oxpeckers and large mammals.
- Clownfish and anemones.
- Honeyguides and humans.
- The senita cactus and senita moth.
What are 5 examples of commensalism?
Commensalism is a type of relationship between two organisms in which one benefits from the another without causing any harm to it.
- Orchids Growing On Branches.
- Sharks And Remora/Sucker Fish.
- Whales And Barnacles.
- Tree frog on plants.
- Burdock Seeds On Animals.
What is an example of commensalism?
Another example of commensalism is one organism using another as a means of transportation. A lot of insects, fish, and other animals use each other in this way, but a good example is the remora. This is a type of suckerfish that will attach itself to sharks and other big fish to catch an underwater ride.
What type of relationship is commensalism?
Commensalism happens when one species lives with, on, or in another species, known as the host. The host species neither benefits nor is harmed from the relationship.
What are some examples of symbiotic relationships?
- One of the most obvious symbiotic relationships that can be seen by almost anyone anywhere is the relationship of a honey bee and a flower.
- One interesting example of mutual symbiosis is the relationship between a species of clownfish that lives among the tentacles of a type of sea anemone.
What are some examples of parasitism relationships?
A parasitic relationship is one in which one organism, the parasite, lives off of another organism, the host, harming it and possibly causing death. The parasite lives on or in the body of the host. A few examples of parasites are tapeworms, fleas, and barnacles.
Are sharks and pilot fish friends?
In return, sharks do not eat pilot fish because pilot fish eat their parasites. This is called a “mutualist” relationship. Small pilot fish are often seen swimming into the mouth of a shark to eat small pieces of food from the shark’s teeth. Sailors even said that sharks and pilot fish act like close friends.
Do fish clean sharks teeth?
You’d be hard-pressed to find any fish daring enough to voluntarily enter a top predator’s mouth, but that’s precisely what a humble fish called the cleaner wrasse does. These fearless fish swim directly into sharks’ intimidating teeth-filled mouths without so much as a second thought, and the sharks love it.
Why do little fish hang on sharks?
The reason to swim with sharks is to find refuge from other violent predators at sea. In return, they eat the ectoparasites and leftovers from the shark helping the host remain germ-free. It has been observed that small pilot fish swim into the mouth of shark to clean fragments of food from its teeth.
Do sharks sleep?
Sharks do not sleep like humans do, but instead have active and restful periods.
Do sharks love pets?
If sharks are interested in being petted, they can expect to be petted in return. Marine biologist Jim Abernethy suggests that sharks are unpredictable, and if you do not have the expertise, you should not pet them. However, marine experts often pet sharks by gently touching and caressing them.
Can sharks become friendly?
It turns out that lemon sharks can actually be friendly, according to the research, published in 2009 in the journal Animal Behaviour.