Question

a mite lives in the base of the eyelashes of people who use mascara. it feeds on the mascara; it does not seem to harm people. what type of symbiotic relationship is this?
predation
mutualism
parasitism
commensalism

Explanation:

To determine the symbiotic relationship, we analyze each type:

• Predation: Involves one organism killing another for food; the mite doesn't kill people, so not predation.
• Mutualism: Both organisms benefit; the mite benefits (gets food), but people don't seem to benefit, so not mutualism.
• Parasitism: One organism benefits at the expense of the other (harming it); the mite doesn't harm people, so not parasitism.
• Commensalism: One organism benefits, and the other is neither helped nor harmed. The mite benefits (feeds on mascara) and people are not harmed or helped, so this fits.

Answer:

commensalism