Which type of ecological relationship is formed when European mistletoe (Viscum album) grows on a linden tree?

• A. Mutualism
• B. Predation
• C. Commensalism
• D. Parasitism

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of parasitism: Parasitism is an ecological relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits by deriving nutrients or resources from another organism (the host), often causing harm to the host.
2. Identify the organisms involved: In this case, European mistletoe (Viscum album) is the parasite, and the linden tree is the host.
3. Analyze the interaction: European mistletoe grows on the linden tree and extracts water and nutrients from it, which benefits the mistletoe but can weaken or harm the linden tree.
4. Compare with other ecological relationships: Mutualism involves both organisms benefiting, predation involves one organism killing and consuming another, and commensalism involves one organism benefiting without harming or helping the other. None of these fit the described interaction.
5. Conclude that the relationship is parasitism: Based on the definition and analysis, the relationship between European mistletoe and the linden tree is parasitism because the mistletoe benefits at the expense of the tree.