Organisms often depend on one another for survival. Some organisms form a close partnership with other kinds of organisms and these partnerships are called symbiotic relationships.
In the PSLE, pupils may be given a scenario based on symbiotic relationships. Using the information and contextual clues given, pupils must describe how two kinds of organisms are interdependent on each other.
Let's read about two examples of such symbiotic relationships.
(a) Cleaner Shrimps and fish
Cleaner shrimps and fish are interdependent on each other. As their name suggests, cleaner shrimps clean the fish.
The shrimps hang out at a cleaning station. When a fish stops by, a shrimp climbs onto the fish and sometimes even into the fish's mouth. The shrimp will use its tiny claws to pick tiny pieces of food off the fish's body. In the process, it helps to clean the fish by picking dead skin and tiny creatures that can hurt the fish.
(b) Plovers and crocodiles
Plovers are small birds that help to clean the teeth of the crocodiles. When a crocodile opens its mouth, the plover hops into the mouth. The crocodile does not snap its snout shut. Instead, it allows the plover to eat small, harmful animals attached to the crocodile's teeth.
How do they benefit from each other? The plover gets food while the crocodile gets its teeth cleaned.
~ Serena's Greenhouse
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