Unit 4 Main Lab

1. Tree in courtyard outside our house.  Salix Alba.  This is a mutualistic relationship.  We benefit from the tree because it gives us beauty and it benefits from us because we water it.

2. Koi in our pond. Cyprinus carpio.  Again, a mutualistic relationship.  We benefit from their beauty and they benefit from our care for them.

3. Pond scum. Cyanobacteria.  Commensalistic...it's just there, it isn't harming the pond, and we do not harm it.

4. Water Lillies. Nymphaea.  Mutualistic - Again, they provide beauty and we take care of them

5. Iris - Acorus calamus.  Mutualistic for the same reason as the lillies

6. Clover, our pet rat. Rattus Norvegicus.  Mutualistic...she gives us fun and companionship, and we give her food, water, and affection.

7.  Raziel, my 2 year old daughter.  Homo sapien.  Mutualistic...I love her and provide for all of her needs, and get endless love in return

8. Bacteria in our mouth - caries.  Parasitic...it destroys our teeth.

9. Spiders - archaearanea tepidariorum. Mutualistic...they eat our bugs, and they take shelter in our home

10. Dust mites - arachnida acari.  Commensalistic - they are there and are annoying, but cause no harm

11. Humming birds. selasphorus rufus - Mutualistic...We provide them nectar, in return we get to observe their beauty

12. Crickets. Hadrogryllacris.  Commensalistic...They pass through our house, and we help them back out the door.

13. Hornets.  Polistes dominulus.  Commensalistic - they are irritating, but will leave humans alone if they are left alone

14. Frog. Hyla arenicolor.  Commensalistic - they hop around our courtyard and eat bugs

15. Bacteria on a piece of cheese - Penicillum roqueforte.  Commensalistic...it is not a harmful bactieria

16. Bamboo plant - bambusa vulgaris.  Mutualistic - it provides beauty, and we water it and make sure it has sunlight

17. Pomegranate - punica granatum.  Mutualistic - humans care for the plant which in turn provides us fruit

18. Apple - malus domestica.  Mutualistic for the same reasons as the pomegranate

19.  Christmas tree, or Douglas Fir. pseudotsuga menziesri.  Parasitic.  Humans get to enjoy the beauty of the tree, but the tree dies because it is cut down.  I wasn't able to get a picture of a real tree...ours is plastic :)

20.  Yeast infection - candidiasis.  My daughter had a couple of these as a newborn.  Parasitic...it causes discomfort to the person, or host, affected.