Question

select the correct answer.
the graph shows the change in number of two populations, lions and zebras. the solid line represents the population of zebras and the dashed line represents the population of lions. which relationship does the graph represent?

a. facultative parasitism
b. commensalism
c. obligate parasitism
d. predator - prey

Explanation:

• Facultative parasitism: In facultative parasitism, one organism can live as a parasite but can also survive independently. This graph does not show such a relationship.
• Commensalism: Commensalism is a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. The population changes in the graph show a more interactive (not one - sided) relationship.
• Obligate parasitism: Obligate parasites must live on or in a host to survive. This graph does not depict a host - parasite (obligate) relationship.
• Predator - prey: In a predator - prey relationship, when the prey (zebras, solid line) population increases, there is more food for the predator (lions, dashed line), so the predator population starts to increase after a time lag. As the predator population increases, it hunts more prey, causing the prey population to decline. Then, due to less food, the predator population also declines. This is exactly what the graph shows.

Answer:

D. predator - prey