mutuaalism
Mutualism is a biological interaction in which two different species benefit from each other. The term comes from the Latin word mutualis, meaning "mutual." This cooperative relationship contrasts with competition and predation and is a form of symbiosis. Mutualism can be obligate, requiring both partners for survival, or facultative, where the interaction enhances fitness but is not strictly necessary. Examples include cleaner fish and larger fish, where the cleaner removes parasites and the larger fish receives clean skin, and mycorrhizal fungi and angiosperms, where the fungus supplies minerals and the plant provides carbohydrates. In agriculture, bees pollinate many crops, benefiting plants with seed production while gaining nectar. Mutualisms can span ecological scales from microscopic to large organisms and can involve various types of exchanges, such as food, protection, or nutrient transfer.
The study of mutualism has revealed that these interactions often stabilize ecosystems by increasing biodiversity and