Question

which best describes the relationship between deer and ticks?

mutualism
commensalism
parasitism

Explanation:

🆕 New Concept Discovered: Symbiotic Relationships
One organism benefits while the other is harmed.

Step 1: Analyze the interaction between the organisms

To determine the relationship between deer and ticks, we look at how each organism is affected by the interaction:

• Ticks attach themselves to deer to feed on their blood. This provides the tick with nourishment and energy, so the tick benefits (\(+\)).
• Deer lose blood, experience skin irritation, and can contract harmful diseases or infections from the ticks. Therefore, the deer is harmed (\(-\)).

Step 2: Match with the correct ecological term

We evaluate the given options based on how the two species are affected:

• Mutualism: Both organisms benefit (\(+/+\)).
• Commensalism: One organism benefits while the other is unaffected (\(+/0\)).
• Parasitism: One organism (the parasite) benefits by living on or in another organism (the host), which is harmed (\(+/\-\)).

Since the tick benefits and the deer is harmed, this relationship is an example of parasitism.

Answer:

Parasitism