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Activity for Nature’s Cutest Symbiosis: The Bobtail Squid

Photo of a bobtail squid

Topic

  • Microbiology
  • Bacteria
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Zoology

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Film Activities

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
33 Users
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Description

This activity explores the content presented in the animated video Nature’s Cutest Symbiosis: The Bobtail Squid, which describes how the light produced by bacteria living inside bobtail squid helps the squid avoid its predators.

In this short animated film, Ed Yong and scientists Margaret McFall-Ngai and Edward Ruby explain how the Hawaiian bobtail squid recruits a specific type of light-producing bacteria, Vibrio fischeri, to colonize its light organ. The bacteria are essential for the squid to develop its light organ and produce light. The light organ provides the squid with a selective advantage because the light from the organ makes the squid virtually invisible to nocturnal predators, while the bacteria benefit from having a home and nutrients. The squid and the bacteria maintain a lifelong symbiotic relationship that benefits both species.

The “Student Handout” probes students’ understanding of the key concepts addressed in the film. The “Educator Materials” document provides suggested pause points in the film with questions for students, background information, and detailed discussion points; a list of related resources and references; and an answer key for the “Student Handout.”

Student Learning Targets

  • Describe the nature and consequences of the mutualistic relationship between the bobtail squid and the bacteria in its light organ.

Estimated Time

One 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

camouflage, counterillumination, light organ, marine biology, microbe, mutualism, predation, I Contain Multitudes

Primary Literature

McFall-Ngai, Margaret. “Divining the Essence of Symbiosis: Insights from the Squid-Vibrio Model.” Public Library of Science Biology 12, 2 (2014): e1001783. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001783.  

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files partially meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 04.19.18
Date Updated 04.19.18

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2-3, HS-LS4-4, HS-LS4-5; SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

ENE-3, ENE-4, IST-3, IST-5, SYI-1; SP1

IB Biology (2016)

4.1, C.1

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 1.1, 1.3
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-1.A, ERT-1.C

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

2.1

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.2, ELA.WHST.9-12.9

Vision and Change (2009)

CC2, CC5; DP1

Materials

Educator Materials (PDF) 434 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 181 KB

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
Nature’s Cutest Symbiosis: The Bobtail Squid

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Animated Shorts
Nature’s Cutest Symbiosis: The Bobtail Squid
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Animated Shorts
Fecal Microbiota Transplants
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Can a Fungus Save Plants from Global Warming?
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A World without Microbes
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A Wasp Mom’s Gift: Blankets of Bacteria
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Superbugs That Resist Antibiotics Can Evolve in 11 Days
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Film Activities
Activity for Solving Crimes with the Necrobiome
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Activity for How Tube Worms Survive at Hydrothermal Vents
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Other Resources About Symbiosis

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3D animation of a bleached coral
Animations
Coral Bleaching
Image of Ed Yong with cartoon squid from the film
Animated Shorts
Nature’s Cutest Symbiosis: The Bobtail Squid
Screen shot of Ed Yong from the video
Animated Shorts
Can a Fungus Save Plants from Global Warming?
Image of Ed Yong eating wood from the film
Animated Shorts
Termites Digest Wood Thanks to Microbes
Image of Ed Yong from the film
Animated Shorts
How Giant Tube Worms Survive at Hydrothermal Vents
Image of Ed Yong superimposed on a beewolf from the film
Animated Shorts
A Wasp Mom’s Gift: Blankets of Bacteria
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Symbiotic Bioluminescence
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Bacterial Quorum Sensing
Image of a sea slug from the activity
Phenomenal Images
Slug Power
Computer image of squid from the activity
Phenomenal Images
Living Together
Image of a tubeworm
Film Activities
Activity for How Tube Worms Survive at Hydrothermal Vents
Image of a "wood snacks" commercial from the video
Film Activities
Activity for Termites Digest Wood Thanks to Microbes
Part of a phylogenetic tree with many branches. Some branches are black, and others are orange.
Data Points
Evolution of Ant-Mimicking Beetles

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Image of Ed Yong with cartoon squid from the film
Animated Shorts
Nature’s Cutest Symbiosis: The Bobtail Squid
Image of Ed Yong from the film
Animated Shorts
How Giant Tube Worms Survive at Hydrothermal Vents
Image of Ed Yong superimposed on a beewolf from the film
Animated Shorts
A Wasp Mom’s Gift: Blankets of Bacteria
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Symbiotic Bioluminescence
Image of a "wood snacks" commercial from the video
Film Activities
Activity for Termites Digest Wood Thanks to Microbes
Image of Ed Yong eating wood from the film
Animated Shorts
Termites Digest Wood Thanks to Microbes
Image of a tubeworm
Film Activities
Activity for How Tube Worms Survive at Hydrothermal Vents
Microscope image of bacteria multiplying
Clips
Bacterial Growth
Screen shot of Ed Yong next to a poop emoji from the video
Animated Shorts
Fecal Microbiota Transplants
Screen shot of Ed Yong from the video
Animated Shorts
Solving Crimes with the Necrobiome
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