The interaction described in the scenario is:
b) Predator-prey (+/-)
Here's the step-wise explanation:
1. A bird sits on a deer and picks insects off the deer.
- The bird is the predator in this interaction because it is hunting or feeding on insects.
- The deer is the prey because it is being hunted or consumed by the bird.
2. The bird gets food.
- The bird benefits from this interaction by obtaining food (insects).
3. The deer becomes insect-free.
- The deer experiences a negative consequence as it loses insects, which could be harmful to the deer (the insects are removed from the deer's body).
In a predator-prey interaction, one organism (predator) benefits by capturing and consuming another organism (prey), while the prey experiences negative consequences as it is consumed. Therefore, this scenario represents a classic example of a predator-prey relationship, which is denoted by the symbiotic interaction (+/-).