AP BIOLOGY

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

INTRODUCTION

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Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]

Barnacles attach themselves to whales to help them collect more food from the water. The whales seem unaffected. What type of symbiotic relationship is this?

A	Mutualism
B	Commensalism
C	Parasitism

Explanation:

Detailed explanation-1: -Barnacles growing on the back of the whale is an example of commensalism. It is a type of symbiotic relationship.

Detailed explanation-2: -MORE ON THIS: The relationship between these barnacles and humpback whales is an example of commensalism, where one species benefits and the other is unaffected. The barnacle benefits from this relationship because it is provided with a place to live and filter food.

Detailed explanation-3: -Commensalism is a relationship which is beneficial to one organism and the other is unaffected. Barnacles growing on the back of a whale, gets protection and more access to food due to its relationship with the whale, while the whale is unaffected by this relationship therefore this relationship is commensalism.

Detailed explanation-4: -Whale barnacles are species of acorn barnacle that belong to the family Coronulidae. They typically attach to baleen whales, and sometimes settle on toothed whales.

Detailed explanation-5: -Examples of parasitic symbiosis include: Fleas and mosquitoes feed on blood from other organisms. In this type of parasitic relationship, the host needs to stay alive and it is not damaged greatly.

There is 1 question to complete.