Question

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

scenarios	relationship
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.
3. black wasps plant eggs in aphids. the larvae eat the aphids from the inside.
4. a lucky alligator spots a deer drinking water, attacks the deer, kills it and eats it for food.
5. an alpheid shrimp digs a deep burrow to protect itself from predators. the goby fish sits at the entrance, keeping watch for predators, and signals the shrimp with a flick of its tail when it is safe to come out. the two animals are completely dependent on each other.
6. a lion on the savanna eats a deer. while he is eating, a sneaky hyena will try to steal the deer from the lion.

Explanation:

To solve for the ecological relationships in each scenario, we analyze the interactions between organisms:

Scenario 1: Otters and Kelp, Sea Urchins

• Otters benefit from kelp (shelter) and eat sea urchins, which eat kelp. Kelp benefits from otters controlling sea urchins.
• Relationship: Mutualism (both otters and kelp benefit indirectly, as otters protect kelp from overgrazing by sea urchins).

Scenario 2: Pearl Fish and Sea Cucumber

• Pearl fish gets a safe home (benefit), but the sea cucumber is neither helped nor harmed.
• Relationship: Commensalism (one benefits, the other is unaffected).

Scenario 3: Black Wasps and Aphids

• Black wasp larvae eat aphids (harm aphids) to develop.
• Relationship: Parasitism (or Predation; larvae rely on aphids for food, harming them).

Scenario 4: Alligator and Deer

• Alligator kills and eats deer (deer is harmed, alligator benefits).
• Relationship: Predation (one organism kills and eats another).

Scenario 5: Alpheid Shrimp and Goby Fish

• Shrimp digs a burrow (both use it for safety), goby signals danger (helps shrimp). Both benefit.
• Relationship: Mutualism (both organisms benefit from the interaction).

Scenario 6: Lion, Deer, and Hyena

• Lion eats deer (predation: lion benefits, deer is harmed). Hyena steals from lion (competition or Kleptoparasitism: hyena benefits at lion’s expense).
• Relationship: Predation (lion-deer) and Competition/Kleptoparasitism (hyena-lion).

Final Answers (by Scenario):

1. Mutualism
2. Commensalism
3. Parasitism (or Predation)
4. Predation
5. Mutualism
6. Predation (and Competition)

Answer:

To solve for the ecological relationships in each scenario, we analyze the interactions between organisms:

Scenario 1: Otters and Kelp, Sea Urchins

• Otters benefit from kelp (shelter) and eat sea urchins, which eat kelp. Kelp benefits from otters controlling sea urchins.
• Relationship: Mutualism (both otters and kelp benefit indirectly, as otters protect kelp from overgrazing by sea urchins).

Scenario 2: Pearl Fish and Sea Cucumber

• Pearl fish gets a safe home (benefit), but the sea cucumber is neither helped nor harmed.
• Relationship: Commensalism (one benefits, the other is unaffected).

Scenario 3: Black Wasps and Aphids

• Black wasp larvae eat aphids (harm aphids) to develop.
• Relationship: Parasitism (or Predation; larvae rely on aphids for food, harming them).

Scenario 4: Alligator and Deer

• Alligator kills and eats deer (deer is harmed, alligator benefits).
• Relationship: Predation (one organism kills and eats another).

Scenario 5: Alpheid Shrimp and Goby Fish

• Shrimp digs a burrow (both use it for safety), goby signals danger (helps shrimp). Both benefit.
• Relationship: Mutualism (both organisms benefit from the interaction).

Scenario 6: Lion, Deer, and Hyena

• Lion eats deer (predation: lion benefits, deer is harmed). Hyena steals from lion (competition or Kleptoparasitism: hyena benefits at lion’s expense).
• Relationship: Predation (lion-deer) and Competition/Kleptoparasitism (hyena-lion).

Final Answers (by Scenario):

1. Mutualism
2. Commensalism
3. Parasitism (or Predation)
4. Predation
5. Mutualism
6. Predation (and Competition)