Which term describes a relationship in which both organisms benefit?

Which term describes a relationship in which both organisms benefit?

• A. Parasitism
• B. Mutualism
• C. Commensalism
• D. Amensalism

Answer: (B)

Mutualism is a relationship in which both organisms benefit, often improving each partner's chances of survival or reproduction. For example, flowering plants gain help with pollination when bees visit them, and bees receive nectar. In the human body, gut bacteria help digest food and synthesize nutrients, while the host provides a nutrient-rich environment. Other relationships include parasitism, where one benefits at the other's expense; commensalism, where one benefits and the other is unaffected; and amensalism, where one is harmed while the other is unaffected. So the term for a relationship where both benefit is mutualism.

Mutualism is a relationship in which both organisms benefit, often improving each partner's chances of survival or reproduction. For example, flowering plants gain help with pollination when bees visit them, and bees receive nectar. In the human body, gut bacteria help digest food and synthesize nutrients, while the host provides a nutrient-rich environment. Other relationships include parasitism, where one benefits at the other's expense; commensalism, where one benefits and the other is unaffected; and amensalism, where one is harmed while the other is unaffected. So the term for a relationship where both benefit is mutualism.