Mutualism describes the ecological interaction between two or more species where each species has a net benefit. Other exchanges put one of the individuals in danger. In the parasitic mode of connection (also known as parasitism), a creature known as the parasite profits while the other (known as the host) suffers the majority of the harm, as intestinal worms, ticks, and fleas exploit their hosts.
On the other hand, there are times when an organism benefits from the interaction yet does not harm its host. Commensalism is a type of symbiosis in which one party benefits while the other is generally uninjured and does not benefit from the relationship. The organism that is totally dependent on it is known as a commensal.
Commensal birds that live in hollow trees are an example of this. As a result, one of the defining aspects of mutualism is that organisms gain from one another. Mutualism enhances biological fitness rather than lowers it, as parasitism does. The advantages could include access to nourishment, protection, or other life functions. Because the species trade resources (such as carbohydrates or inorganic substances) or services, it might be viewed as a type of “biological barter” (such as protection from predators or gamete dispersal).
The favourable (or positive) outcomes of a partnership must outweigh the costs of the affiliation in order for it to be deemed a mutualism. Otherwise, it will be misinterpreted as parasitism or predation, rather than mutualism.
Mutualism is compared to collaboration because of the good outcomes of the association. The latter, on the other hand, is an intraspecific relationship. The organisms involved in mutualism are from different species (i.e., interspecific). However, the mutualistic relationship may not last indefinitely. When the circumstances are favourable, the positive relationship is maintained.
Mutualism may be disrupted if this does not happen. It’s possible that one participant will benefit while the other does not. In some cases, the association causes harm to the other. The link between humans and normal gut flora is an example of this. Beneficial bacteria can be found in the human intestines. The human intestine provides a substrate for these microorganisms.
In exchange, they offer humans essential substances (such as vitamins) that they cannot produce on their own. When the human body gets weak and immunocompromised, this mutualism can be interrupted. There’s a chance that these bacteria will turn on their human hosts and transform into opportunistic pathogens (i.e., agents of disease).