Question

Clown fish are protected from predators when they hide among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones. However, some scientists believe that the clown fish may also eat or chase away some predators of the sea anemone. In the first case, the interaction between fish and anemone is __________; in the second case, the interaction is best described as __________.

Answer 1

Answer:

First case: commensalism; Second case: mutualism                                  

Explanation:

Commensalism is a type of symbiotic biological relationship between organisms belonging to two different species, in which one member gains benefits from the other member, while the other member is not harmed or benefited.

Whereas, mutualism is a type of symbiotic biological relationship between organisms belonging to two different species, in which both the members mutually benefit from each other.

Therefore, the interaction between clown fish and sea anemone, when the clown fish hide under the tentacles of sea anemones to gain protection, is known as commensalism.

Whereas, the interaction between clown fish and sea anemone, when the clown fish also gets rid of some predators of the sea anemone, is known as mutualism.