Which is an example of an obligate mutualism?
A) Blackbirds and mistletoe.
B) Ants and aphids.
C) Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and deep sea worms.
D) Monarch butterflies and milkweed plants.
E) Cows and cattle egrets.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and deep-sea worms (such as Riftia pachyptila, the giant tube worm) engage in an obligate mutualism where the bacteria live inside the worms and convert sulfur compounds from hydrothermal vents into organic molecules that the worm can use for nutrition. In this relationship, both organisms are entirely dependent on each other for survival, fitting the definition of obligate mutualism.

Which Is an Example of an Obligate Mutualism