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

  • 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.

  • 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 .

  • Distribution and Importance of Parasitic Worms

    • It is argued that humans have evolved with parasitic worms and there is a mutualistic relationship which mandates the need for parasitic worms to contribute to a healthy immune system.

  • Sea Coral and Sea Anemone Zooxanthellae

    • Symbiodinium are known primarily for their role as mutualistic endosymbionts.

  • Colonization and Growth

    • All multicellular organisms are colonized to some degree by extrinsic organisms and the vast majority of these exist in either a mutualistic or commensal relationship with the host.

  • Endophytes and Plants

    • Since their reproductive fitness is intimately tied to that of their host plant, these fungi are often mutualistic.