Question

Which example illustrates commensalism and NOT mutualism? A) Hippo dung (feces) is eaten by a large species of catfish native to African lakes. The catfish typically follow the hippo herds. B) Cattle have protozoa living in their gut that digest cellulose. The cows are able to feed on grass, while the protozoa are sheltered inside the cow. C) Oxpeckers remove parasitic fly larvae from the skin of buffalo. In exchange, they are protected from predatory cats, who will not challenge a buffalo. D) Ants 'farm' aphid insects like cattle. Aphids suck the sap out of trees, which ants also feed on. In turn, the ants sting predators that attack the aphids

Answer 1

A) Hippo dung (feces) is eaten by a large species of catfish native to African lakes.

Answer 2

The answer is A. Commensalism refers to relationships between organism where one benefits while the other is unaffected.  The relationship is also not obligatory. In this case, the hippo is unaffected while the catfish benefit from its feces. The other choices involve mutualism.