Which statement describes brood parasitism?

Which statement describes brood parasitism?

• A. One animal relies on others to raise its young
• B. Both animals benefit
• C. One animal is harmed
• D. A nonliving interaction between species

Answer: (A)

Brood parasitism is a reproductive strategy where one species relies on another species to raise its young. The parasite lays its eggs in the host’s nest and lets the host do the incubation and feeding of the chicks. The advantage for the parasite is clear: it avoids the energy and time of parental care. The host, however, ends up raising offspring that aren’t its own, often at a cost to its own reproduction. This is different from mutualism, where both species benefit, and it involves active interactions between living organisms, not a nonliving relationship. So the best description is that one animal relies on others to raise its young.

Brood parasitism is a reproductive strategy where one species relies on another species to raise its young. The parasite lays its eggs in the host’s nest and lets the host do the incubation and feeding of the chicks. The advantage for the parasite is clear: it avoids the energy and time of parental care. The host, however, ends up raising offspring that aren’t its own, often at a cost to its own reproduction. This is different from mutualism, where both species benefit, and it involves active interactions between living organisms, not a nonliving relationship. So the best description is that one animal relies on others to raise its young.