The interaction where one species is benefitted, and the other is neither benefitted nor harmed is called as -
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Commensalism
Population interactions are named by their effect on each of the two species: benefit (+), harm (−) or no effect (0).
(1) Amensalism — Incorrect. In amensalism (−, 0), one species is harmed and the other is not affected.
(2) Mutualism — Incorrect. In mutualism (+, +), both species benefit, as in lichens (a fungus and an alga).
(3) Commensalism — Correct. In commensalism (+, 0), one species benefits and the other is neither benefitted nor harmed. An orchid growing on a mango branch and the barnacles on a whale are examples.
(4) Parasitism — Incorrect. In parasitism (+, −), the parasite benefits and the host is harmed.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 10-06-2023 (Slot 3), and in CUET (UG) 2022 on 16-07-2022 (Slot 1).
NCERT Extract:
Population Interactions – “… Assigning a ‘+’ sign for beneficial interaction, ‘-’ sign for detrimental and 0 for neutral interaction, let us look at all the possible outcomes of interspecific interactions …. Both the species benefit in mutualism and both lose in competition in their interactions with each other. In both parasitism and predation only one species benefits (parasite and predator, respectively) and the interaction is detrimental to the other species (host and prey, respectively). The interaction where one species is benefitted and the other is neither benefitted nor harmed is called commensalism.”