Question

read the following descriptions of ecological relationships and answer the questions that follow.

relationship description | type of relationship | how are these relationships similar? | how are these relationships different?

honey guide birds alert and direct badgers to bee hives. the badgers then expose the hives and feed on the honey first. next the honey guide birds eat. both species benefit.

as bison walk through grass, insects become active and are seen and eaten by cowbirds. the relationship neither harms nor benefits the bison.

Explanation:

1. For the honey - guide birds and badgers: This is a mutualistic relationship as both species benefit. The honey - guide birds lead badgers to beehives, badgers expose the hives and eat honey first, and then honey - guide birds eat.
2. For bison and cowbirds: This is a commensal relationship. Cowbirds benefit from the bison disturbing the grass and making insects active, while the bison is neither helped nor harmed.

Similarities: Both are ecological relationships between different species.
Differences: In mutualism, both species benefit, while in commensalism, only one species benefits and the other is unaffected.

Answer:

1. Type of Relationship (honey - guide birds and badgers): Mutualism
2. Type of Relationship (bison and cowbirds): Commensalism
3. How are these relationships similar: Both are inter - species ecological relationships.
4. How are these relationships different: In mutualism both species benefit; in commensalism one species benefits and the other is unaffected.