Which of the following is NOT one of the five major interactions between species?

The correct answer is that cooperation is not considered one of the five major interactions between species in the context of ecological interactions. The five major interactions typically recognized in ecology include predation, competition, parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism.

Predation involves one species (the predator) hunting and consuming another (the prey), which has significant implications for population dynamics within an ecosystem. Competition refers to the struggle between species or individuals for limited resources, such as food, water, or space, influencing their survival and reproductive success. Parasitism is a relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (the host), often harming it in the process.

Cooperation, while an important aspect of ecological interactions, is more often encompassed within mutualism, which is a type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit. Thus, labeling cooperation as a standalone interaction rather than a subset of mutualistic interactions highlights why it is not classified among the main interactions. This distinction helps in understanding the dynamics of ecological relationships more clearly.