Question

You are studying the microbial communities in a marine estuary. You notice a layer of purple photosynthetic bacteria that use sulfide as an electron source. Sulfide is oxidized by these bacteria, which grow in a layer above sediment from which you have isolated sulfate-reducing bacteria that generate sulfide during anaerobic respiration. Based on this evidence, which of the following types of symbiotic relationships do you suspect might be occurring between these two types of bacteria?

Answer 1

Answer: Cooperative

Step-by-step explanation:

The symbiotic relation between the two bacteria that exists is cooperative relationship. The microorganism engage themselves in a wide variety of social interaction, which includes cooperation.

In this method the recipient gets benefit by the individual who is actually performing the task. Here, the purple bacteria is capable of performing photosynthesis.

They do not use water as reducing agent and they do not even produce oxygen.

Answer 2

Cooperative.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cooperative interaction may be defined as a type of biological interaction in which the positive change for one species provides benefit to the other species as well. This is quite different from mutualism.

The sulfate reducing bacteria produce sulfur during the anaerobic respiration. This sulfur is further oxidized by the bacteria that grows above the sulfate reducing bacteria. Here, sulfate reducing bacteria provides benefit to the purple photosynthetic bacteria.

Thus, the correct answer is cooperative.