Question

Select the correct match

(I)	(II)	(III)
(a)$+$	(i)$-$	(P) Amensalism
(b)$-$	(ii)$-$	(Q) Commensalism
(c)$-$	(iii) 0	(R) Predation
(d)$+$	(iv) 0	(S) Competition

A. a-iv-Q, b-iii-P, c-ii-S, d-i-R
B. a-i-Q, b-ii-P, c-iii-S, d-iv-R
C. a-i-Q, b-iii-P, c-ii-S, d-iv-R
D. a-iv-Q, b-ii-P, c-iii-S, d-i-R

Answer 1

Interspecific interactions are the interactions between different species in a community. Thus, in interspecific interactions, $+$ sign indicates beneficial interaction, $-$ sign indicates detrimental interaction and 0 indicates neutral interaction.

Complete answer:
Interspecific interactions are those interactions in which behavior or characteristics of individuals of one population contribute to a change in the characteristics of another species population. Amensalism, commensalism, predation, and competition are types of interspecific interactions.
-Amensalism: It is a type of interspecific interaction between organisms of two different species in which one organism is inhibited or destroyed while the organism remains unaffected. Thus, in amensalism there is $- /0$ interaction.
-Commensalism: It is a type of interspecific interaction in which two species have a long-term interaction that is beneficial to one species while the other species remains unaffected. Thus, in commensalism there is $+ /0$ interaction.
-Predation: In predation, the predator feeds on its prey which indicates that the predator is benefitted while the prey population is harmed by the predator. Thus, it is a $+ / -$ interaction.
-Competition: In this type of interaction, the organisms of two different species compete with one another for the same limited resource available in their environment and thus, have a negative impact on each other. So, competition is a $- / -$ interaction.
Thus, by looking into the above definitions of different types of interspecific interaction, it has been confirmed that amensalism is a $- /0$ interaction, commensalism is a $+ /0$ interaction, predation is a $+ / -$ interaction, and competition is a $- / -$ interaction. So, a-iv-Q, b-iii-P, c-ii-S, d-i-R is a correct match and the other options are incorrect.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: Apart from amensalism, commensalism, predation, and competition; other types of interspecific interactions are symbiosis, mutualism, and parasitism. The importance of these interactions is that they result in evolutionary changes and the assembly of local communities.