Question

question 21 of 25
which of the following relationships is an example of commensalism?
a. bacteria live inside a humans stomach, making the person ill.
b. insects get food from flowers and help the flowers reproduce.
c. mosquitoes eat the blood of cows, passing along disease.
d. a fish lives in coral, getting protection from the coral.

Explanation:

• Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.
• In option A, bacteria making a human ill is parasitism (one organism benefits at the expense of another).
• In option B, insects getting food and helping flowers reproduce is mutualism (both organisms benefit).
• In option C, mosquitoes feeding on cow blood and passing disease is parasitism.
• In option D, the fish benefits (protection) and the coral is unaffected, which fits the definition of commensalism.

Answer:

D. A fish lives in coral, getting protection from the coral.