Question

Worker bees don't get a chance to reproduce. Instead, they take care of their honeybee colony. They are a good example of animals exhibiting _____.

phoresy
altruism
commensalism
mutualism

Answer 1

In mutualism, both species benefit. An example would be nitrogen-fixing bacteria living in the root systems of some plants. The bacteria get sugar from the plant, and they give back amino-acids in return.

Commensalism is where two species associate together and only one of them benefits: the other is unaffected. Phoresy is one type of commensalism, where the benefit received is in the form of free transportation - e.g. some mites are carried around on insects without doing the insect any good or any harm.

Altruism is where an individual makes some sacrifice for another individual - usually (but not necessarily) of the same species. The worker bees give up their chance of reproduction for the benefit of the whole colony, so this is altruism. However, they do share quite a lot of their genes with the rest of the colony, so in the long run it is good for them too if the others reproduce. This is probably why altruistic behaviour has evolved in so many species.

Answer 2

Now, between what I gave you, one of them correlates with the Bee's you are asking.

Answer 3

the second one?

Answer 4

@alphadxg

Answer 5

Yup :) because it is keyword 'Sacrificing'

Answer 6

oh ok thnx:)