# Symbiosis worksheet: mutualism, commensalism and parasitism (with answer key)

> Symbiosis worksheet: a 12-pair table, short questions on mutualism, commensalism and parasitism, reflection prompts and an answer key.

Source: https://panduanhewan.org/en/learn/worksheet-symbiosis/ · Updated 2 October 2026 · English · Bahasa Indonesia: https://panduanhewan.org/id/belajar/lkpd-simbiosis/
_This Markdown mirror is generated at build time from the same data as the HTML page. Cite the HTML page URL and its update date._

## Activity 1

Decide the type of symbiosis for each pair (mutualism, commensalism or parasitism) and give your reason using +, 0 or −.

1. Clownfish and sea anemone
2. Asian honey bee and flowers
3. Large flying fox and durian tree
4. Knobbed hornbill and forest fruit trees
5. Giant clam and zooxanthellae
6. Orchid and mango tree
7. Remora and shark
8. Cattle egret and water buffalo
9. Cat flea and cat
10. Brown dog tick and dog
11. Female Aedes mosquito and people
12. Mistletoe and tree

## Activity 2

1. Explain the difference between mutualism, commensalism and parasitism in your own words.
2. Why is an orchid growing on a tree not a parasite?
3. What does the clownfish get, and what does the sea anemone get, from their relationship?
4. Your friend says, "Buffalo and mynas are definitely mutualists." How would you respond?
5. How is predation different from parasitism?

## Answer key

1. Clownfish and sea anemone: Mutualism (+/+): the fish is protected, the anemone is guarded from predators
2. Asian honey bee and flowers: Mutualism (+/+): the bee gets nectar and pollen, the flower is pollinated
3. Large flying fox and durian tree: Mutualism (+/+): the bat gets food, the tree is pollinated and its seeds spread
4. Knobbed hornbill and forest fruit trees: Mutualism (+/+): the bird gets fruit, the seeds are spread
5. Giant clam and zooxanthellae: Mutualism (+/+): the clam gets food, the algae get a home
6. Orchid and mango tree: Commensalism (+/0): the orchid gets a place to grow, the tree loses no nutrients
7. Remora and shark: Commensalism (+/0); can be close to mutualism because remoras also eat the shark's parasites
8. Cattle egret and water buffalo: Commensalism (+/0): the egret gets disturbed insects, the buffalo is unaffected (mutualism if the egret eats the buffalo's ticks)
9. Cat flea and cat: Parasitism (+/−): the flea gets blood, the cat is harmed
10. Brown dog tick and dog: Parasitism (+/−): the tick gets blood, the dog can become ill
11. Female Aedes mosquito and people: Usually classed as parasitism (+/−): the mosquito gets blood for eggs, people can catch diseases; ecologists also call mosquitoes micropredators
12. Mistletoe and tree: Parasitism (+/−): the mistletoe gains, the tree is harmed

- 1. Mutualism: both gain. Commensalism: one gains, the other is unaffected. Parasitism: one gains, the other is harmed.
- 2. Epiphytic orchids take no nutrients directly from the tree; they only grow on it.
- 3. The clownfish is protected by the anemone's stinging tentacles. The anemone is guarded from its predators by the clownfish.
- 4. It is only true if the birds are shown to reduce the buffalo's parasites. The documented example, the cattle egret, mainly eats insects disturbed by the buffalo, so it is usually classed as commensalism; it becomes mutualism only if the egret eats ticks off the buffalo's hide.
- 5. In predation a predator hunts and eats its prey. In parasitism a parasite lives with its host for a long time and benefits at the host's expense.