Question

Given below are interactions depicted between two species with ‘+’ sign for beneficial interaction and ‘-’ sign for detrimental interaction. Choose the correct option(s).

• A. Mutualism: species A (+) and species B (+).
• B. Competition: species A (-) and species B (-).
• C. Predation: predator (-) and prey (+).
• D. Parasitism: parasite (+) and host (-).

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (D)

The correct options are
A Mutualism: species A (+) and species B (+).
B Competition: species A (-) and species B (-).
D Parasitism: parasite (+) and host (-).

Mutualism is a type of interaction in which both the organisms involved benefit from each other. So, both species A and B are beneficial: species (+) and species B (+).

In competition, the interacting organisms compete for the same limiting resouces. So, both species A and B have detrimental interaction: species A (-) and species B (-).

In predation interaction, the beneficial organism is known as predator while the detrimental one is called prey: predator (+) an d prey (-).

In parasitism, the parasite is beneficial while the host organism is harmed by the parasite: parasite (+) and host (-).