Question

In a hypothetical situation, a bacterium lives on the surface of a leaf where it obtains nutrients from the leaf's nonliving waxy covering, which the leaf continually produces. The plant is not hurt or harmed by this feeding. Once the number of bacteria reaches a critical mass, they inhibit the growth of other microbes that damage the plant. Occasionally, these bacteria can gain access to the interior of the leaf, for example, if there is weather-related leaf breakage the exposes the plant's interior tissues. If this occurs, the bacteria feed on the plant's living tissue, causing minor damage. What sequences best describes the ecological roles played by the bacterium in this situation?

Answer 1

Answer:

Mutualism= since the neither the bacteria nor the plant  was  disturbed with relationship, but rather benefited from  one another.The bacteria only feed on the waxy covering on the leaf's  surfaces,  which is nonliving and has no effect on it living tissues,while the   plants benefited through inhibition of other bacteria growth on it tissues ; this is Mutualism since the two organism plants and bacteria interrelate and belong to different species.

Pathogenic -since bacteria fed on the plant tissues and cause damages, this is pathogenic.it may lead to infection. The bacteria is said to be Pathogenic bacteria for this single act.

Explanation: