Question

Cattle egrets are birds that follow behind grazing cattle. The egrets eat the bugs that fly out of the grass as the cattle walk through. Which statement describes the relationship between the cattle egrets and the cattle?

A
predation, because the cattle egrets eat the bugs

B
mutualism, because both the cattle egrets and the cattle benefit

C
commensalism, because the cattle egret benefits, but the cattle neither benefits nor is harmed

D
parasitism, because the bugs might have bit the cattle egrets or the cattle and caused them harm

Answer 1

Answer: I think it's

Answer 2

The answer is C. commensalism. The egret doesn’t help nor does it harm the cattle, and just benefits off of it.

The relationship would be mutual if the egret did something extra, like eat bugs from off of the cattle. That way they would both benefit because the egret gets a snack and the cattle gets a free cleaning.