Question

dentify the interaction used to describe each type of interdependence among organisms.


The red-billed oxpecker (a bird) eats ticks off the fur of an impala (a type of antelope). The oxpecker receives food and removes the ticks from the impala.

Titan triggerfish move large rocks in the ocean to find food. In return, smaller fish are able to eat because the moved rocks expose food. The titan triggerfish are not affected.

Answer 1

1) Red-billed oxpecker and impala — Mutualism (cleaning symbiosis). Both benefit: the oxpecker gets food (ticks) and the impala gets parasites removed (+/+).

2) Titan triggerfish and smaller fish — Commensalism. The smaller fish benefit (gain access to exposed food) while the triggerfish is unaffected (+/0).