Answer:
I believe the options are:
- Birds feed in berries produced by a tree. The birds receive a food source and the tree is able to disperse its seeds.
- An egret follows cattle in a field eating insects that are stirred up. The egret receives a food source and the cattle are unaffected.
- Abundance of host decreases.
- Abundance of both species increases.
- Ticks feed on the blood of a deer. The tick receives vital nutrients and the deer is left weakened.
- Abundance of parasite increases.
- Abundance of one species increases, and the other is not affected.
Species Interactions:
The correct species interactions are:
Parasitism:
3. Abundance of host decreases.
5. Ticks feed on the blood of a deer. The tick receives vital nutrients and the deer is left weakened.
6. Abundance of the parasite increases.
Commensalism:
2. An egret follows cattle in a field eating insects that are stirred up. The egret receives a food source and the cattle are unaffected.
7. Abundance of one species increases, and the other is not affected.
Mutualism:
4. Abundance of both species increases.
1. Birds feed in berries produced by a tree. The birds receive a food source and the tree is able to disperse its seeds.
Explanation:
Species Interactions:
Species interactions are relationships between different members of a community. The main types are:
- Competition
- Parasitism
- Mutualism
- Commensalism
- Predation
Parasitism:
A relationship between two organisms in which one organism (parasite) lives in or on the host, derives its nutrients from the host and in turn, harms the host. In the above examples, the ticks feeding on deer blood derive nutrients from the deer but harm the deer as a result.
Commensalism:
A species interaction that involves one organism deriving benefits from another but the other neither loses nor gains any benefits i.e. the other organism is unaffected. In the above examples, the egret uses the cattle to find food but in turn the cattle are unaffected.
Mutualism:
In mutualism, both the organisms receive benefits from the species interaction. In the above examples, the birds benefit from the tree by retrieving nutrients and in turn the tree benefits in the dispersal of its seeds.
