AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Barnacles are attached to the back of the whale for obtaining food and shelter. It is a common example of commensalism in which one organism is benefitted while the other is neither benefitted nor harmed. Commensalism is a beneficial and long-term relationship that has no positive or negative effect on the other.

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: -In the case of barnacles and whales, only the barnacles benefit from attaching to the whales, but at no biological cost to the whale. This type of symbiotic relationship is known as commensalism. In this case, attaching to the whales gives the barnacles a stable place to live, a free ride, and access to plenty of food.

Detailed explanation-4: -They don’t harm the whales or feed on the whales, like true parasites do. Barnacles don’t serve any obvious advantage to the whales, but they give helpful lice a place to hang onto the whale without getting washed away by water. Barnacles find the slow-swimming gray whale a good ride through nutrient-rich ocean waters.