Question

1. while studying a tropical rainforest, an ecologist observes that many bromeliad plants grow attached to the branches of tall trees. the bromeliads do not directly harm or benefit the trees, but they collect nutrient - rich water that drips down from the canopy above. what type of ecological relationship does this interaction best illustrate? succession predation mutualism commensalism

Explanation:

Commensalism is a type of ecological relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. Bromeliads growing on tree branches and collecting nutrient - rich water from the canopy without affecting the trees is an example of commensalism. Mutualism involves both organisms benefiting, predation is one organism consuming another, and succession is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

Answer:

Commensalism