What type of relationship is represented by the interaction between the sea anemone and the clown fish?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Commensalism, where one species benefits and the other is neither benefitted nor harmed
The clown fish lives among the stinging tentacles of the sea anemone. Predators stay away from the tentacles, so the fish gets protection. The anemone does not appear to derive any benefit by hosting the fish, and it is not harmed either. One partner gains and the other is unaffected, which is commensalism.
Option (1) Mutualism, where both species benefit — Incorrect. The definition of mutualism is right, but the pair does not fit it. Only the clown fish gains; the anemone gets no apparent benefit.
Option (2) Parasitism, where one species benefits and the other is harmed — Incorrect. The definition of parasitism is right, but the clown fish does not harm the anemone. It only shelters among the tentacles.
Option (3) Commensalism, where one species benefits and the other is neither benefitted nor harmed — Correct. The clown fish benefits by getting protection, and the sea anemone is neither benefitted nor harmed.
Option (4) Amensalism, where one species is harmed and the other is unaffected — Incorrect. In amensalism one species is harmed. Here neither partner is harmed, and the clown fish gains.
NCERT Extract:
Population Interactions – “… (iv) Commensalism: This is the interaction in which one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor benefited.”
Population Interactions – “… Another example of commensalism is the interaction between sea anemone that has stinging tentacles and the clown fish that lives among them. The fish gets protection from predators which stay away from the stinging tentacles. The anemone does not appear to derive any benefit by hosting the clown fish.”