Question

what type of relationship do the oxpecker and zebra exhibit?

mutualism

commensalism

niche competition

Explanation:

🆕 New Concept Discovered: Ecological Symbiotic Relationships
How different species live and interact together.

Step 1: Analyze the interaction

To determine the relationship between the oxpecker (a bird) and the zebra, we look at how each organism is affected by the interaction:

• The oxpecker eats ticks, flies, and other parasites living on the zebra's skin. This provides the bird with a reliable food source (a benefit).
• The zebra gets these harmful, blood-sucking parasites removed from its body, which reduces pest irritation and the risk of disease (a benefit).

Step 2: Identify the relationship type

Since both species benefit from this close interaction, we classify the relationship:

• Mutualism: Both species benefit (\(+/+\)).
• Commensalism: One species benefits, while the other is unaffected (\(+/0\)).
• Niche Competition: Both species compete for the same limited resources, which negatively impacts both (\(-/-\)).

Because both the oxpecker and the zebra benefit, this is a classic example of mutualism.

Answer:

Mutualism