Which relationship is described as both organisms benefiting from each other?

The relationship where both organisms benefit from each other is known as mutualism. In mutualistic relationships, both parties gain advantages that can enhance their survival, reproduction, or overall fitness. For example, bees and flowering plants exemplify mutualism, as bees obtain nectar from flowers, which they use for food, while simultaneously aiding in the pollination of the plants, allowing them to reproduce effectively. This symbiotic interaction highlights how organisms can form beneficial partnerships that contribute to their mutual success.

In contrast, commensalism involves one organism benefiting while the other is neither helped nor harmed, parasitism features one organism benefiting at the expense of the other, and competition occurs when organisms vie for the same resources, often leading to negative impacts on one or both parties involved. Understanding these relationships is crucial in ecology as they illustrate the complex interactions within ecosystems.