A female fig wasp enters the syconium of a fig, pollinates the flowers, and lays eggs in the ovaries of some of the flowers. The young larvae grow up, eat (and kill) some, but not all, of the seeds, and complete their life cycle. The fig is completely dependent on fig wasps to pollinate its flowers, and the fig wasp requires figs to complete its life cycle. The interaction between figs and fig wasps has aspects of

Options

A. mutualism
B. competition
C. predator-prey and host-parasite interaction.
D. a and c

Answer

To analyze the interaction between figs and fig wasps, we can break it down into several steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Organisms Involved:**
- The fig tree (syconium) and the fig wasp are two organisms that have a specific relationship. The fig tree provides a habitat and food source for the wasp, while the wasp aids in the pollination of the fig flowers.

2. **Pollination Process:**
- When a female fig wasp enters the fig, she pollinates the flowers. This is essential for the fig tree because it relies on the wasp for successful reproduction.

3. **Egg Laying:**
- After pollination, the female wasp lays her eggs in the ovaries of some of the flowers. This is a critical step as it ensures that the next generation of wasps can develop within the fig.

4. **Larval Development:**
- The larvae that hatch from the eggs feed on the seeds within the fig. They consume some of the seeds, which leads to the death of those seeds, but not all seeds are consumed, allowing some to develop into new fig trees.

5. **Mutual Dependence:**
- The fig tree is completely dependent on the fig wasp for pollination, while the fig wasp depends on the fig for a place to lay her eggs and for nourishment for her larvae. This creates a mutualistic relationship where both organisms benefit.

6. **Additional Interactions:**
- While the relationship is primarily mutualistic, it also has aspects of predation and parasitism. The larvae act as predators to the seeds, and since they consume the seeds for nourishment, this can be viewed as a host-parasite interaction.

7. **Conclusion:**
- The interaction between figs and fig wasps can be classified as mutualism due to the benefits provided to both parties. However, it also has characteristics of predation and parasitism due to the larvae feeding on the seeds.

### Final Answer:
The interaction between figs and fig wasps has aspects of mutualism, predation, and host-parasite relationships. Therefore, the best choice is option 4, which encompasses these interactions.

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