A given species of fig tree is pollinated only by its partner wasp species and no other species. The female wasp uses the fruit as an oviposition site and the developing seeds for nourishing its larvae. In return, the wasp pollinates the fig inflorescence. This highly specific relationship demonstrates which of the following ecological interactions and evolutionary phenomena, respectively?

Step-by-step solution

The interaction between the fig tree and the wasp is mutualism (+, +) because both species derive benefit from each other. The fig tree is pollinated by the wasp, while the wasp gets a safe site for laying eggs (oviposition) and developing seeds to nourish its larvae. The strict one-to-one relationship, where a specific fig species is pollinated only by its partner wasp species, is a classic example of co-evolution. The evolution of the flower and its pollinator species are tightly linked with one another. Answer: