Question

1. imagine you discover a new relationship between two species. what kind of evidence would you collect to argue whether it is parasitism, commensalism, or mutualism?

Explanation:

• Parasitism: Check if one species benefits at the expense of the other (e.g., harm to the host like reduced fitness, growth, or survival).
• Commensalism: See if one species benefits and the other is neither significantly helped nor harmed (e.g., no measurable negative or positive impact on the non - benefiting species).
• Mutualism: Look for both species deriving benefits (e.g., increased reproductive success, access to resources like food or shelter for both).

Answer:

Collect evidence on how each species is affected. For parasitism, evidence of harm to one species. For commensalism, evidence of no significant harm/help to one. For mutualism, evidence of benefits for both.