Question

Explain mutualism with examples.

Answer 1

Hint:Mutualism describes the interaction between the individuals of different species.

Complete Answer:
Mutualism:
It is a symbiotic relationship between individuals of different species.
 In this type of relationship both the individuals of different species get benefited from their association, no one gets harmed.
Different examples of Mutualism:-
Some of the examples of mutualism are given below:
1) The bee and flower:- In this example the bee gathers nectar from the flowers and when bees land on the flower , bees help in the pollination of flowers. In this manner both the bees and flowers benefit from this association.
2)The bacteria and humans:- In this example a certain kind of bacteria lives in the intestine of humans. The human cannot digest all kinds of food. So these bacteria eat the food that humans cannot digest. So in this manner bacteria help humans to digest food and humans provide shelter and food to bacteria.
3)Human and plants:- We all know that humans and plants both cannot sustain their lives without each other. Plants provide food which humans eat, and oxygen which humans breathe. And animals provide carbon dioxide to plants which plants need to survive.
4)Nitrogen fixing bacteria and leguminous plants:- In this, the nitrogen fixing bacteria live in the roots of leguminous plants. The bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen to the form of nitrogen which plants can uptake. And plants provide shelter and food to these bacteria.

Note:Mutualism is only an ecological relationship in which both the individuals of different species get benefited, no one gets harmed.