mutualistic

(noun)

Mutually beneficial.

Related Terms

Examples of mutualistic in the following topics:

  • Mutualism vs. Symbiosis

    • Symbiosis is a relationship between two organisms: it can be mutualistic (both benefit), commensal (one benefits), or parasitic.
    • Mutualism: In mutualistic interactions, both species benefit from the interaction.
    • Another classic example is the behavior of mutualistic bacteria in ecology and human health.
    • Humans lacking healthy mutualistic gut flora can suffer a variety of diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome .
    • For example, you might say that a gut bacteria is an "endosymbiotic mutualist," or that a flea is an "ectosymbiotic parasite

  • Mutualistic Relationships with Fungi and Fungivores

    • Members of Kingdom Fungi form ecologically beneficial mutualistic relationships with cyanobateria, plants, and animals.
    • When both members of the association benefit, the symbiotic relationship is called mutualistic.
    • Fungi form mutualistic associations with many types of organisms, including cyanobacteria, plants, and animals.

  • Mycorrhiza

    • A mycorrhiza is a symbiotic (generally mutualistic, but occasionally weakly pathogenic) association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular plant.
    • Mycorrhizas form a mutualistic relationship with the roots of most plant species.
    • This mutualistic association provides the fungus with relatively constant and direct access to carbohydrates, such as glucose and sucrose.

  • Overview of Human-Microbial Reactions

    • Human-microbial interactions can be commensal or mutualistic, as with many types of gut flora, or harmful, as with pathogenic bacteria.
    • The relationship between gut flora and humans is thought to be not merely commensal, but rather a mutualistic relationship.
    • Skin flora are usually non-pathogenic and either commensal or mutualistic.

  • Squid-Aliivibrio Symbiosis

    • One of the best studied examples of bioluminescence is the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) and its mutualistic bacteria, Aliivibrio fischeri.
    • Bobtail squid rely on their mutualist bacteria Allivibrio fischerii to generate light.

  • Community Ecology and Ecosystem Ecology

    • For example, the larvae of the Karner blue butterfly form mutualistic relationships with ants.
    • This mutualistic relationship is an example of a community ecological study, which aims to examine the interactions between different species living in an area.

  • Symbiosis

    • Most scientists accept this definition, but some restrict the term to only those species that are mutualistic, where both individuals benefit from the interaction.
    • For example, termites have a mutualistic relationship with protozoa that live in the insect's gut.

  • Class Anthozoa

    • Some sea anemones establish a mutualistic relationship with hermit crabs by attaching to the crab's shell.
    • Another type of anthozoan that forms an important mutualistic relationship is reef building coral.

  • Microbiota of the Skin

    • Skin flora are usually non-pathogenic, and either commensals (are not harmful to their host) or mutualistic (offer a benefit).
    • Skin microflora can be commensals, mutualistic, or pathogens.
    • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an example of a mutualistic bacterium that can turn into a pathogen and cause disease.

  • Bacteroides and Flavobacterium

    • The bacteroides are further characterized as mutualistic and have been identified in the mammalian gastrointestinal system .