Question

Define and discuss the following terms:
Mutualism (b) Competition

Answer 1

Hint:- Mutualism and competition are the ecological relationship. Ecological relationship refers to the interaction between organisms living in the same ecological system. These types of interactions can either be interspecific or intraspecific.

Complete Answer:-
Mutualism :
Mutualism is defined as a way that reflects the positive signs characterizing the outcome of interactions between the species, that is, as interactions between individuals of different species that benefit both of them. However, it can be more precisely defined as an interaction between individuals of different species that results in positive (beneficial) effects on the interacting populations. As in other interspecific interactions , the degree of dependency of an organism upon the other ranges from obligate to facultative. There are either obligate–obligate, obligate–facultative, or facultative–facultative interactions. Facultative mutualists are ones whose populations will not diminish even when a mutualist is not present , whereas obligate mutualists are ones whose populations go extinct in the absence of a mutualist. For example, an oxpecker is eating external parasites off the coat of the mammal it is riding on. So the bird benefits in the form of a meal and the mammal benefits by having parasites removed.

Competition :
It is most typically considered the interaction of individuals that compete for a common resource that is in limited supply, but more generally it is the direct or indirect interaction of organisms which causes change in fitness when the organisms share the same resource. The outcome mostly has negative effects on the weaker competitors. Examples of this can be seen in coastal marine environments, like the coral reef.

Note:- Mutualism contrasts competition in many ways. Also mutualism is not synonymous with symbiosis, co-operation, or facilitation, although ecological and evolutionary parallels do occur among these forms of interaction.