Read the following passage and answer the next five questions:
In nature, populations of different species in a habitat do not live in isolation but interact in many ways. Depending on the outcome, these interactions between two species are classified as competition, predation and parasitism, commensalism, amensalism and mutualism. Through these interactions trophic energy transfer is facilitated. Some predators help in controlling their prey populations, whereas plants have evolved diverse morphological and chemical defences against herbivores.
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: An orchid grows as an epiphyte on a mango branch where mango tree does not derive any apparent benefit from it
Statement II: An orchid growing on a mango tree is an example of commensalism.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Both Statement I and Statement II are true
Statement I: An orchid grows as an epiphyte on a mango branch where mango tree does not derive any apparent benefit from it — True. An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant only for support. The orchid gets a place in the light, high on the branch. It takes no food from the mango tree, and the tree neither gains nor loses.
Statement II: An orchid growing on a mango tree is an example of commensalism. — True. This (+, 0) interaction is commensalism. Statement I describes this very relationship.
Note: The passage is taken from NCERT. NTA has put lines of the NCERT text together to make it. Most CUET (UG) questions come straight from NCERT, so study the book line by line, including figures and their titles.
NCERT Extract:
Population Interactions – “… (iv) Commensalism: This is the interaction in which one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor benefited. An orchid growing as an epiphyte on a mango branch, and barnacles growing on the back of a whale benefit while neither the mango tree nor the whale derives any apparent benefit.”