mutualism (ˈmjuːtʃʊəˌlɪzəm) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| another name for symbiosis | |
| 'mutualist | |
| —n, —adj | |
| mutual'istic | |
| —adj | |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
mutualism mu·tu·al·ism (my&oomacr;'ch&oomacr;-ə-lĭz'əm)
n.
A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit.
mutualism (my 'ch -ə-lĭz'əm) Pronunciation Key
A symbiotic relationship in which each of the organisms benefits. ◇ In obligate mutualism the interacting species are interdependent and cannot survive without each other. The fungi and algae that combine to form lichen are obligate mutualists. ◇ In the more common facultative mutualism the interacting species derive benefit without being fully dependent. Many plants produce fruits that are eaten by birds, and the birds later excrete the seeds of these fruits far from the parent plant. While both species benefit, the birds have other food available to them, and the plants can disperse their seeds when the uneaten fruit drops. Compare amensalism, commensalism, parasitism. |
mutualism
association between organisms of two different species in which each is benefited. Mutualistic arrangements are most likely to develop between organisms with widely differing living requirements. The partnership between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and leguminous plants is an example, as is the association between cows and rumen bacteria (the bacteria live in the digestive tract and help digest the plants eaten by the cow). The associations between tree roots and certain fungi are often mutualistic (see mycorrhiza.)
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