Grade 9 Biological Diversity Unit Practice Exam 2025 - Free Grade 9 Science Practice Questions and Study Guide

In a mutualistic relationship, both organisms involved benefit from the interaction. Bees pollinating flowering plants exemplifies this synergy perfectly. The bees obtain nectar from the flowers, which provides them with energy and nutrition. In return, as the bees move from flower to flower collecting nectar, they facilitate the process of pollination, allowing plants to reproduce. This relationship is essential for the growth of flowering plants and contributes significantly to biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

The other options illustrate different types of relationships in nature. For example, a predator and its prey highlight a predator-prey dynamic, where one organism benefits at the expense of the other. Similarly, eagles hunting rabbits indicates a predatory relationship, focused on survival. Fish hiding in coral reefs represent a form of commensalism, where one organism benefits while the other is not significantly helped or harmed. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in studying ecological interactions and the complexity of biological diversity.