Question

Two organisms live in close association with each other such that one is benefited and the other is neither benefited nor harmed. Which of the following terms best describes this relationship?
A. Mutualism
B. Commensalism
C. Symbiosis
D. Parasitism
E. Predator-prey relationship

Answer 1

Hint: Any relationship or interaction between two distinct species is referred to as symbiosis. Whether one or both organisms benefit from the association determines the type of symbiosis. When one species benefits from a close, long-term association while the other neither benefits nor is hurt, this is known as a commensalistic relationship.

Complete answer:
Commensalism is a long-term, close relationship between two species in which one species benefits while the other remains unaltered or unaffected.
Mutualism refers to a relationship in which both partners gain benefit from each other.
The term "parasitism" refers to a relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of another.

So the correct answer is (B) commensalism.

Symbiosis is a mutually beneficial relationship between two organisms of different species in which one or both parties get benefit. Symbiotic connections can be used to assess the health of an ecosystem.
Large swaths of coral reefs, for example, have been badly damaged or destroyed as a result of recent rises in ocean temperature caused by climate change.
The increase in temperature causes coral to expel the algae that live in mutualism within them. Symbiotic connections can serve as indicators of the health of an ecosystem. Because of recent increases in ocean temperature owing to climate change, extensive swaths of coral reefs have been severely damaged or destroyed. Coral is compelled to eject the algae that live in mutualism with them when the temperature rises.

Note:-
Parasitism is a relationship between two species in which one benefits from the other and the other suffers as a result. The organism that benefits from the other is referred to as a parasite, while the organism that is injured is referred to as a host. Non-trophic species interactions, such as habitat change and mutualisms, have been postulated as major determinants of food web topologies in several recent studies.