We think of termites as insects that eat wood. However, termites cannot digest the wood and rely on a variety of eukaryotic and prokaryotic gut microbes to digest cellulose. Without the microbes, the termites will still ingest wood but will starve. This, then, is an example of a(n); obligate antagonism. facultative antagonism. None of the answer options is correct. obligate mutualism. facultative mutualism.

Obligate Mutualism

Explanation:

Living organisms tend to be involved in relationships with one another. This question is one of those ecological relationships, specifically, mutualistic relationship because both organisms benefit from one another. According to the question, the termite feeds on wood containing cellulose. The microbes present in their guts help them to digest this cellulose and in turn the termites provide shelter and food source for the decomposers/microbes.

This relationship is further described as OBLIGATE because the termite is strictly dependent on the microbe to survive. The termite does not have the ability to digest the main components of wood called CELLULOSE, which it ingests. Hence, the microbe is strictly needed by the termite. This mutualistic relationship is a dire need by one or both organisms in order to survive. Therefore, it is an OBLIGATE MUTUALISM.

fertilization, pictured in figure 24.23a is the process in which gametes (an egg and sperm) fuse to form a zygote. the egg and sperm each contain one set of chromosomes. to ensure that the offspring has only one complete diploid set of chromosomes, only one sperm must fuse with one egg. in mammals, the egg is protected by a layer of extracellular matrix consisting mainly of glycoproteins called the zona pellucida. when a sperm binds to the zona pellucida, a series of biochemical events, called the acrosomal reactions, take place. in placental mammals, the acrosome contains digestive enzymes that initiate the degradation of the glycoprotein matrix protecting the egg and allowing the sperm plasma membrane to fuse with the egg plasma membrane, as illustrated in figure 24.23b. the fusion of these two membranes creates an opening through which the sperm nucleus is transferred into the ovum. the nuclear membranes of the egg and sperm break down and the two haploid genomes condense to form a diploid genome.

explanation:

the denominator has a very specific role.