Question

symbiotic relationships
use the chart above to identify the ecological relationship between the organisms in the scenarios.

scenarios

1. otters float and sleep in a forest of kelp in the water. the kelp provides them with a place to anchor in the moving water. the otters eat sea urchins, which normally eat the kelp
2. a pearl fish spends the day inside the intestines of a sea cucumber. the fish leaves at night to feed on small crustaceans. the pearl fish gets a safe place to live. the sea cucumber does not benefit from this relationship, nor is it harmed.

relationship

Explanation:

To solve for the symbiotic relationships, we analyze each scenario:

Scenario 1: Otters, Kelp, and Sea Urchins

• Otters use kelp for anchoring (otters benefit from kelp).
• Otters eat sea urchins, which eat kelp (otters protect kelp by controlling urchins, so kelp benefits from otters).
• Sea urchins are harmed (eaten by otters).

This is mutualism between otters and kelp (both benefit), and predation (or indirect mutualism via urchin control). But the core interaction between otters and kelp (otters get a place to anchor, kelp gets protection from urchins) is mutualism.

Scenario 2: Pearl Fish and Sea Cucumber

• Pearl fish gets a safe home (benefits).
• Sea cucumber is neither helped nor harmed (no benefit/loss).

This is commensalism (one benefits, the other is unaffected).

Final Table (Filled):

Scenarios	Relationship
2. Pearl fish lives in sea cucumber’s intestines (fish benefits; cucumber is unaffected).	Commensalism (Fish → Cucumber)

(Note: For simplicity, the primary relationship for Scenario 1 is often framed as mutualism (otters and kelp) since both gain: otters get anchorage, kelp gets protection from urchins. Scenario 2 is clearly commensalism.)

Answer:

To solve for the symbiotic relationships, we analyze each scenario:

Scenario 1: Otters, Kelp, and Sea Urchins

• Otters use kelp for anchoring (otters benefit from kelp).
• Otters eat sea urchins, which eat kelp (otters protect kelp by controlling urchins, so kelp benefits from otters).
• Sea urchins are harmed (eaten by otters).

This is mutualism between otters and kelp (both benefit), and predation (or indirect mutualism via urchin control). But the core interaction between otters and kelp (otters get a place to anchor, kelp gets protection from urchins) is mutualism.

Scenario 2: Pearl Fish and Sea Cucumber

• Pearl fish gets a safe home (benefits).
• Sea cucumber is neither helped nor harmed (no benefit/loss).

This is commensalism (one benefits, the other is unaffected).

Final Table (Filled):

Scenarios	Relationship
2. Pearl fish lives in sea cucumber’s intestines (fish benefits; cucumber is unaffected).	Commensalism (Fish → Cucumber)

(Note: For simplicity, the primary relationship for Scenario 1 is often framed as mutualism (otters and kelp) since both gain: otters get anchorage, kelp gets protection from urchins. Scenario 2 is clearly commensalism.)