Question

A clown fish takes shelter in a sea anemone, protecting the sea anemone by chasing away butterfly fish. What two types of interactions are described in this scenario?
a. Predation and commensalism
b. Predation and mutualism
c. Competition and commensalism
d. Competition and mutualism

Answer 1

Answer:

It's D.   Competition and mutualism.  I just took the test on Edge.

Answer 2

The answer is b. Predation and mutualism.

Mutualism is a relationship between two different species in which both species benefit. In clownfish - sea anemone relationship, the clownfish is protected from predators (butterfly fish) by the sea anemone, so the clownfish benefits from this relationship. The sea anemone gets more prey thanks to a coloration of the clownfish, so the sea anemone also benefits from this relationship. Since both species benefit, their relationship is an example of mutualism.

On the other hand, a relationship between the sea anemone and butterfly fish is an example of predation. Predation is the relationship in which predator hunts and feeds on its prey. In the example, the butterfly fish feeds on the sea anemone, so it must be predation.