What type of relationship exists when one organism benefits and the other is harmed?

What type of relationship exists when one organism benefits and the other is harmed?

• A. Mutualism
• B. Commensalism
• C. Parasitism
• D. Interspecific competition

Answer: (C)

The relationship described, where one organism benefits while the other is harmed, is known as parasitism. In parasitism, the organism that benefits is called the parasite, which relies on the host organism for nutrients or other resources, ultimately causing some level of harm to the host in the process. This harm can manifest in various ways, including disease, depletion of resources, or even death of the host. Understanding this interaction is crucial in ecology, as it influences population dynamics and the health of ecosystems. In contrast, mutualism involves both organisms benefiting from their interaction, commensalism involves one organism benefiting while the other is unaffected, and interspecific competition occurs when different species compete for the same resources, leading to potential harm to both due to limited availability. Each of these relationships contributes differently to the complexity of ecological interactions, but in the case of parasitism, the distinct imbalance in benefits and harms clearly defines it.

The relationship described, where one organism benefits while the other is harmed, is known as parasitism. In parasitism, the organism that benefits is called the parasite, which relies on the host organism for nutrients or other resources, ultimately causing some level of harm to the host in the process. This harm can manifest in various ways, including disease, depletion of resources, or even death of the host.

Understanding this interaction is crucial in ecology, as it influences population dynamics and the health of ecosystems. In contrast, mutualism involves both organisms benefiting from their interaction, commensalism involves one organism benefiting while the other is unaffected, and interspecific competition occurs when different species compete for the same resources, leading to potential harm to both due to limited availability. Each of these relationships contributes differently to the complexity of ecological interactions, but in the case of parasitism, the distinct imbalance in benefits and harms clearly defines it.