What ecological term describes an intimate long-term symbiotic interaction in which one organism benefits while the host organism is neither helped nor harmed?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Commensalism
- Step 1: Classify interspecific interactions: Mutualism is (+/+); Parasitism is (+/-); Competition is (-/-).
- Step 2: Commensalism is a (+/0) relationship where the commensal organism derives benefit (e.g., shelter, transport) with neutral consequence to the host.
- Step 3: Identify commensalism.
Answer
Commensalism.
Why not the others: 'Mutualism' is a symbiotic relationship where both participating species derive mutual benefit; 'Parasitism' is an interaction where one species benefits at the direct metabolic detriment of the host; 'Competition' occurs when two species vie for the same limited resources, exerting reciprocal negative pressure.
Practise more Life Sciences and Environmental Biology.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed Jubilee Institute Admission Test mock tests.
More Life Sciences and Environmental Biology questions
- During aerobic cellular respiration in eukaryotic cells, which metabolic stage produces the largest amount of ATP through oxidative phosphor…
- In a monohybrid cross between two heterozygous garden pea plants (Tt x Tt) where tallness (T) is completely dominant to dwarfness (t), what…
- Which cellular organelle is responsible for post-translational modification, sorting, and packaging of proteins synthesized in the rough end…
- In plant leaves, which specialized epidermal structures regulate transpiration and gas exchange by opening and closing in response to turgor…
- What is the complementary mRNA sequence transcribed from the DNA template strand sequence: 3'-TAC GGC TTA CGA ACT-5'?
- In an ecological trophic pyramid, if primary producers fix 10,000 joules of chemical energy through photosynthesis, approximately how much e…