Question

Some "cleaner fish" consume parasites and mucus from the skin of larger fish. What would be a reasonable argument for why this could be a mutualism rather than a commensal relationship? (3 points)

The cleaner fish prefer to consume mucus from the larger fish rather than parasites.
The cleaner fish reduce the number of parasites on the larger fish.
The larger fish are healthier when the cleaner fish are not present.
The larger fish have no difference in parasite load when the cleaner fish are present.

Answer 1

Answer:

Mutualism is when both creatures benefit from the relationship that they have, so if a "cleaner fish" is consuming parasites and mucus off the skin of a larger fish, the cleaner fish is benefiting by getting food from the big fish, and the big fish is benefiting by being cleaned by the cleaner fish.

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer:

B: The cleaner fish reduce the number of parasites on the larger fish.

Explanation:

I just took the test and got it right :)