Biological Science (6th Edition)

Published by Benjamin Cummings
ISBN 10: 0321976495
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-649-9

Chapter 52 - Community Ecology - Review - Page 1115: 5

Answer

The example that can explain the conditional and dynamic interaction is shown by the mutual relationship between treehopper and ant, which exists in the presence of spiders. When the spiders are present, the ant protects the treehoppers from the attack of spiders and, in turn, the treehopper provides food for the ant. Thus, the population of treehoppers increases.

Work Step by Step

The mutual interaction between treehopper and ant is conditional and dynamic, as it depends on the presence of spider. In the absence of ant, the population of treehoppers declines as they are attacked by spiders. The condition in which the ants are present but the population of spiders is low, the treehopper population remains the same. This implies that the interaction between ant and treehopper is mutual but conditional.
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