The Enthusiastic Connection Between Barberfish and Hammerhead Sharks
What type of relationship exists between barberfish and hammerhead sharks?
a. predation, because the barberfish is eating part of the hammerhead shark
b. mutualism, because both the barberfish and the hammerhead shark benefit
c. parasitism, because the barberfish eats parasites from the hammerhead shark’s skin
d. commensalism, because the barberfish benefits but the hammerhead shark does not benefit
Final answer:
The Interaction Between Barberfish and Hammerhead Sharks
The relationship between barber fish and hammerhead sharks is an example of a mutualistic relationship. Both creatures benefit - the barberfish get food while the shark gets a cleaning service. The relationship is not predation, parasitism, or commensalism.
Understanding Mutualism Between Barberfish and Hammerhead Sharks
The relationship between barberfish and hammerhead sharks can be categorized as mutualism. This type of relationship, mutualism, exists when both parties involved in the interaction benefit - in this case, the barberfish get a source of food by eating the dead skin, fungi, and parasites off of the shark's skin, and in return, the hammerhead shark gets a sort of 'cleaning service', removing potentially harmful elements from its skin.
To understand this fully, let's take a closer look at the different types of relationships. Predation usually involves one organism, the predator, killing and eating another organism, the prey. In this case, the barberfish is not killing or harming the hammerhead shark, therefore, this relationship is not predation. Similarly, in a parasitic relationship, the parasite harms, but does not usually kill, the host, while benefitting itself. In this scenario, the barberfish isn't harming the hammerhead shark, thus, it isn't parasitism. Commensalism, on the other hand, is when one species benefits and the other is not significantly affected, either positively or negatively. But here, both barberfish and hammerhead sharks are benefitting, which makes this a clear example of mutualism.