1. What is the symbiotic relationship between a barnacle and a whale? How could you prove that the whale is not harmed?
Commensalism
You can't prove a negative.
If there's no evidence that the whale is harmed, then it probably wasn't hurt by the barnacles.
The symbiotic relationship between a barnacle and a whale is an example of commensalism. In this relationship, the barnacle benefits by attaching itself to the whale, providing a stable surface to live on and access to nutrients in the form of small particles in the water. Meanwhile, the whale is not directly harmed or benefited by the presence of the barnacles.
To prove that the whale is not harmed by the barnacles, you can observe the behavior and health of the whale. Look for signs of distress, injury, or negative impacts caused by the attachment of barnacles. Some indicators to consider include skin abrasions, wounds, changes in behavior, reduced swimming performance, or overall poor health.
To assess the health of the whale, you can also examine samples of its skin, blubber, or biological fluids for any abnormalities or infections that might be associated with the presence of barnacles. Additionally, observing multiple individual whales over a period of time and comparing their health and behavior can help establish the non-harmful nature of the barnacle-whale relationship.
It's important to remember that while barnacles can accumulate on a whale, they generally attach to areas of the body where they are less likely to cause harm, such as the whale's tail, flippers, or back. However, it's always valuable to conduct proper research and gather scientific evidence to confirm the absence of harm in a symbiotic relationship like this.