Question

In tropical forests, there are plants known as ant-plants. These plants host ant colonies. When the ant colony is the species Petalomyrmex phylax, the presence of the ants protects the ant-plants from predation by herbivores. However, the ant species Cataulacus mckeyi takes advantage of the nesting place and nectar the plants provide without affording any protection to the plant. The interspecies interaction between the ant-plants and P. phylax is an example of __________ whereas the interaction between the ant-plants and C. mckeyi is an example of __________.

Answer 1

The correct answer will be-

1. Mutualism

2.Parasitism

Step-by-step explanation:

The ecological species interact with each other in an ecosystem which could prove either beneficial or harmful.

Mutualism or symbiotic association is the interaction between two species which prove beneficial to both the organisms.

Parasitism is the interaction between two species which prove harmful to one species but beneficial to the other.

In the given question the interaction between the plants and the P. phylax is mutualism as both the species get the benefit of each other whereas the interaction between the plants and the C. mckeyi is parasitism as plant species is negatively affected whereas the ant species is benefitted.

Thus, Mutualism and Parasitism is the correct answer.