Question
Which two descriptions below best represent a relationship of commensalism?
A spider uses a tree to build its web. The tree is not impacted. The spider needs the tree for shelter and safety.
Many weeds create spiky burrs that attach to an animal's fur. As the animal travels, these burrs fall off, successfully dispersing the plant's seeds.
Bees gather nectar from flowers, which they make into food. Pollen rubs onto their bodies as they collect the nectar, the pollen then falls off into the next flower, which pollinates it.
A lion stalks and kills a gazelle, which makes the herd smaller.
A spider uses a tree to build its web. The tree is not impacted. The spider needs the tree for shelter and safety.
Many weeds create spiky burrs that attach to an animal's fur. As the animal travels, these burrs fall off, successfully dispersing the plant's seeds.
Bees gather nectar from flowers, which they make into food. Pollen rubs onto their bodies as they collect the nectar, the pollen then falls off into the next flower, which pollinates it.
A lion stalks and kills a gazelle, which makes the herd smaller.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The two descriptions that best represent a relationship of commensalism are:
1. **A spider uses a tree to build its web. The tree is not impacted. The spider needs the tree for shelter and safety.** - In this scenario, the spider benefits from the tree for its web, while the tree is neither harmed nor benefited.
2. **Many weeds create spiky burrs that attach to an animal's fur. As the animal travels, these burrs fall off, successfully dispersing the plant's seeds.** - Here, the weeds benefit from the animal’s movement to disperse their seeds, while the animal is not significantly affected (it may experience slight inconvenience, but it does not harm them).
The other options describe different types of interactions: mutualism (bees and flowers) and predation (lion and gazelle).
1. **A spider uses a tree to build its web. The tree is not impacted. The spider needs the tree for shelter and safety.** - In this scenario, the spider benefits from the tree for its web, while the tree is neither harmed nor benefited.
2. **Many weeds create spiky burrs that attach to an animal's fur. As the animal travels, these burrs fall off, successfully dispersing the plant's seeds.** - Here, the weeds benefit from the animal’s movement to disperse their seeds, while the animal is not significantly affected (it may experience slight inconvenience, but it does not harm them).
The other options describe different types of interactions: mutualism (bees and flowers) and predation (lion and gazelle).