Question

18. A probable example of commensalism is
A. remoras riding on the belly of a shark.
B. ants living on the bullhorn acacia tree.
C. termites with protozoa in their digestive tracts.
D. flowering plants and their pollinators.
E. the snowshoe hare and the Canadian lynx.

Answer 1

Okay. First, we'll talk about what a "commensalism" is.

A COMMENSALISM is a type of relationship between two organisms,
where one organism gets benefits,
and the other one is totally unaffected. (It's not benefitted, or harmed.)

A MUTUTALISM is where both organisms benefit from one another.

A PARASITISM is where one organism benefits, while the other is harmed.

So, we can definitely use a process of elimination here,
IF we understand all of the relationships in our choices.

So let me explain for you, each type of relationship.

And remember, we're looking for a COMMENSALISM.

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A. A remora is a type of fish. It's small. It attaches itself onto a shark's belly, and it eats scraps of leftover food, that are left behind by the shark.
And the shark couldn't care less.

B. Ants live inside acacia trees. The trees give the ants a home, and food.
In return, the ants will protect the tree, from ELEPHANTS.

C. Protozoa live inside the digestive tracts of termites, so that they can help the termites digest the wood that is eaten.
In turn, the termites give the protozoa an ideal place for them to live.

D. Flowers reproduce through pollination. And bees help do this, by going from one flower to another.
And in turn, the bees use some of the pollen that they collect, as a source of food.

E. I'm pretty sure lynxes eat hares.