Question

15. Tropical leafcutter ants collect leaf cuttings which they transport to special underground chambers. There, they chew the leaves to create nursery beds on which they grow a species of fungus they use for food. When ant queens disperse to establish new colonies, they carry the fungus with them, dispersing it as well (this benefits the fungus). In the ants' nest, the fungus is at risk of being destroyed by another fungal species that is able to grow in the same habitat, using the same limited resources. On their bodies, the ants carry and provide a home for bacteria that produces antibiotics the ants use to kill this second fungus and thereby protect their food supply. In this system, the relationship between the leafcutter ants and their fungal food species is: O mutualism. O interspecific competition. O parasitism. 0 commensalism. O predation.

Answer 1

here both interacting species are benefited, the fungus can grow on the leaves and the bacteria in the ants help to prevent the growth of the second fungus, also the ants helps in the dispersal of the fungus and the fungus provides food for the ant so the answer is mutualism,

commensalism: one interacting partner is benefited, other is not harmed or benefited.

Predation: the predator eats the prey, the predator is benefited and prey is harmed.

parasitism: parasites leave on the body of the host, by using resources from the host, the host is harmed and the parasite is benefited.

interspecific competition: competition between individuals in different species for a limited resource.