In which type of symbiotic relationship do both species benefit?

Mutualism is the type of symbiotic relationship in which both species involved benefit from the interaction. This mutual benefit can enhance growth, reproduction, or survival for both organisms. For example, in a mutualistic relationship between bees and flowering plants, bees obtain nectar for food while helping in the process of pollination, which allows plants to reproduce. This reciprocal relationship is fundamental in many ecosystems, promoting biodiversity and resource availability.

In contrast, predation involves one species (the predator) benefiting at the expense of another (the prey), while parasitism is characterized by one organism benefiting at the cost of another, often harming it in the process. Commensalism features one species benefiting while the other is neither helped nor harmed. These relationships illustrate how different interactions in ecosystems can vary in terms of impact on the involved species.