When an animal protects a plant or an herbivore, a
mutualism occurs.

Question

When an animal protects a plant or an herbivore, a 
 mutualism occurs.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question presents a fill-in-the-blank: 'When an animal protects a plant or an herbivore, a _____ mutualism occurs.'

Option discussion is limited here to the concept that best fits the scenario described. The key idea is a type of symbiotic relationship where both participants benefit from the interaction, which is the essence of mutualism.

First, consider what happens when an animal protects a plant or an herbivore. The animal gains some advantage—such as shelter, access to resources, or reciprocity in defense. At the same time, the plant or herbivore receives protection from predation or damage, which improves its survival or reproductive success. This dual benefit is the hallmark of mutualism, not of other forms of symbiosis.

To contrast with other possibilities: parasitism would involve one partner benefiting at the expense of the other, which is not the case here since protection benefits both sides. Commensalism would describe a relationship where one partner benefits while the other is unaffected; that would ignore the protective benefit to the plant/herbivore. Amensalism would be a one-sided interaction where one organism is harmed and the other is unaffected, which again does not describe a mutual benefit.

Thus, the correct term that encapsulates a protective interaction yielding benefits to both participants is mutualism. In this sentence, the blank should be filled with 'mutualism' to accurately express the described symbiotic relationship.

As a final check, the given answer 'mutualism' aligns with standard definitions of symbiotic relationships in ecological literature, where protective mutualisms occur when one species defends another in exchange for a reward or mutual benefit.

When an animal protects a plant or an herbivore, a mutualism occurs.

查看解析

登录即可查看完整答案

类似问题

Hummingbirds use their long beaks to drink nectar from flowers. In turn, they carry the pollen from flower to flower, assisting with the reproduction of the flowers. What relationship does this describe?

Question at position 7 Bacteria that live in a cow's stomach and help it digest food are an example of __________ .parasitismherbivorycommensalismmutualismcompetitionClear my selection

Acacia ants (Pseudomyrmex ferruginea) live in the hollow thorns of bullhorn acacia trees (Acacia cornigera), and defend the trees against predators and pathogens. The ants eat droplets of nectar from the tree's leaves. Which type of species interaction does this describe?

What are the potential ecological consequences of mutualism between plants and pollinators? Select 2 that apply.

In plant seed-dispersal systems, interactions are highly prevalent.

If neither species can live without the other, this a case of mutualism. In contrast, in mutualism, the interaction is beneficial, but not essential, to the survival and reproduction of either species.

The interaction of plants with pollinators is called mutualism.

Which of the following is an example of mutualism?

更多留学生实用工具

考试浏览器助手

风格化写作助手

论文查重助手

文献引用助手

课堂转译助手

课堂笔记助手

Quiz搜索助手

学校历年真题

智能刷题助手

智能匹配练习

希望你的学习变得更简单