SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS
Spring 2003 – 10
(33) This relationship is an example of —
A predation
B parasitism
C* mutualism
D commensalism
Spring 2003 – 11
35 Clown fish are small reef fish that seek protection from predators by sheltering
themselves among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones. Clown fish are very territorial
and can potentially scare off predators of sea anemones. This relationship is an example
of —
A neutralism
B* mutualism
C parasitism
D commensalism
April 2004 – 10
(10) An oakworm caterpillar feeds on the leaves of an oak tree. This type of interaction is
F mutualistic
G commensalistic
H competitive
J* parasitic
April 2004 - 10
(19) After being introduced in the 1930s, the fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) became
established throughout much of the southern United States. One biological way to control
fire ants might be to introduce organisms that are —
A mutualistic with fire ant queens
B nurtured by fire ant workers
C preyed on by fire ant drones
D* parasitic to fire ant larvae
April 2004 - 10
(44) A hummingbird feeds on the nectar of a flowering plant. In this process the bird
gains nutrition while spreading the plant’s pollen to other flowers. The relationship
between hummingbirds and flowering plants can be described as —
F commensal
G predatory
H parasitic
J* mutualistic
April 2004 - 11
(17) Which situation best represents a mutualistic relationship?
A A tapeworm absorbing nutrients from the intestine of a dog
B* An orchid being pollinated by a nectarcollecting wasp
C A human losing blood to a feeding mosquito
D An armadillo rooting in the soil at the base of an oak tree
July 2004 – 11
11 Beechdrops (Epifagus virginiana) are leafless plants that lack chlorophyll. Beechdrops get
their nourishment from the roots of beech trees, which reduces the amount of nutrients available
to the trees themselves. This interaction is best described as —
A predatory
B* parasitic
C commensalistic
D mutualistic
October 2005 - 11
6 According to the information in the box, which of these best describes the relationship
between rhizobia and bean plants?
F Parasitism
G Opportunism
H Commensalism
J* Mutualism
Fall 2005 – 11
53 A tick feeding on the blood of a dog is an example of —
A commensalism
B* parasitism
C neutralism
D mutualiam
February 2006 – 11
42 Which of these best describes the relationship between epiphytes and trees?
F Parasitism
G Migration
H* Commensalism
J Predation
April 2006 – 10
25 Which word best describes the fungus in the situation above?
A* Predator
B Producer
C Parasite
D Decomposer
April 2006 – 11
Use the information below and your knowledge of science to answer questions 33–35.
Louis Pasteur’s Experiment
Like many other scientific breakthroughs, the discovery of immunization happened by
accident.
In 1880 Louis Pasteur was trying to protect chickens from cholera. To study the disease,
Pasteur and his assistants gave injections of cholera bacteria to several groups of chickens. The
chickens usually died from cholera after being injected with the bacteria. However, one group of
chickens survived. Pasteur noticed that these chickens had been injected with a six-week-old
batch of cholera bacteria.
Pasteur’s assistants prepared new colonies of cholera bacteria and injected these chickens
a second time. They also injected a group of chickens that had not been previously injected.
Pasteur was surprised that the chickens that had been injected previously with the old bacteria
remained healthy, while all the chickens in the second group became sick and died.
This is how Pasteur came to discover that exposure to weakened pathogens can provide
immunity from disease. The idea was later used to protect animals from other serious diseases.
Today immunizations help protect people from many illnesses.
34 Which of these is the best example of a mutualistic relationship in an aquatic
environment?
F Some fish can survive repeated infections by harmful bacteria.
G* Some fish have bacteria living in their digestive tract that help the fish digest
food.
H Some bacteria are present in aquatic food chains in which fish are secondary
consumers.
J Some bacteria are aquatic decomposers that recycle nutrients useful to fish.
July 2006
46 Insecticides help humans compete with insects for a resource. Which resource is most
likely to be preserved for humans through the use of insecticides?
F Sunlight
G Water
H* Food
J Air