Answer: Mutualism: A benefits, B benefits; Commensalism: A benefits, B unaffected; Amensalism: A harmed, B unaffected.
- A Mutualism: A benefits, B benefits; Commensalism: A benefits, B unaffected; Amensalism: A harmed, B unaffected
- B Mutualism: A benefits, B harmed; Commensalism: A harmed, B benefits; Amensalism: both harmed during normal conditions
- C Mutualism: both harmed; Commensalism: both benefit; Amensalism: both unaffected as generally observed in typical laboratory settings
- D Mutualism: A unaffected, B harmed; Commensalism: both harmed; Amensalism: both benefit under usual circumstances
Correct answer: A. Mutualism: A benefits, B benefits; Commensalism: A benefits, B unaffected; Amensalism: A harmed, B unaffected
Explanation: Mutualism benefits both species; commensalism benefits one while the other is unaffected; amensalism harms one species while the other remains unaffected, as in a large tree shading out a smaller plant.
Exponential growth produces an ever-steepening J-curve with no limit, an unrealistic long-term model; logistic growth produces an S-curve that levels off at the carrying capacity K, as growth rate (K−N)/K shrinks to zero once resources are fully used.
Concept context
How organisms interact with abiotic factors and respond to stress, plus population attributes, growth models, and interspecific interactions such as predation, competition, and mutualism.