Question

Choose the incorrect example of commensalism

• A. Orchid growing on a mango tree
• B. Cattle egret and grazing cattle
• C. Sea anemone and clown fish
• D. Female wasp and fig species

Answer 1

The correct option is D Female wasp and fig species

Commensalism is a type of interaction in which one species is benefited and the other species is neither harmed nor benefited.

Some orchids grow as epiphytes on the branches of a mango tree. Epiphytes are plants that grow upon other plants only for support. In this case orchids are commensal organisms as they are benefited from the mango tree as it provides support. The mango tree is host and it is neither benefited or harmed from this interaction.

Sea anemone is a cnidarian that has stinging tentacles with specialised cells called cnidocytes that help in catching the prey and providing self-defence. The clown fishes live very near to the sea anemone as they get protection from the predators because of the stinging tentacles. The clown fish is a commensal organism in this interaction as it is getting benefited and sea anemone is the host which neither gets benefited or harmed.

The egrets (birds) are generally seen close to the grazing cattle because the movement of cattle will flush out insects from the grasses and it becomes easy for the egrets to feed. Else it might be difficult for the egrets to find and catch the prey. In this interaction only the egrets are benefited whereas cattle are neither harmed nor benefited.

The relationship between the female wasp and the fig species is mutualism where both the species are benefited. Wasp helps in the pollination of the fig species and in turn the wasps safely deposit the eggs in the fruits of fig plant.