Barnacles growing on the back of the whale exemplify

Options

A. Parasitism
B. Mutualism
C. Commensalism
D. Amensalism

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Identify the Organisms Involved**: The question mentions barnacles and whales. Barnacles are small crustaceans that attach themselves to various surfaces, including the skin of whales.

2. **Understand the Relationship**: We need to determine the type of relationship between barnacles and whales. In this case, barnacles benefit from attaching to whales, as they gain access to food and a place to live.

3. **Define Commensalism**: Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. In this scenario, barnacles benefit from the whale, but the whale does not gain any benefit nor is it harmed by the presence of barnacles.

4. **Evaluate Other Options**:
- **Parasitism**: This involves one organism benefiting at the expense of another (e.g., a parasite harming its host). This does not apply here, as the whale is not harmed.
- **Mutualism**: In mutualism, both organisms benefit from the relationship. This is not the case with barnacles and whales.
- **Amensalism**: This is a relationship where one organism is harmed and the other is unaffected. Again, this does not apply to barnacles and whales.

5. **Conclusion**: Since barnacles benefit from the whale without causing harm or providing benefit to the whale, the relationship is classified as commensalism.

6. **Final Answer**: Barnacles growing on the back of the whale exemplify commensalism.

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