Symbiotic Relationships Symbiosis refers to an intimate relationship between two organisms This term does not indicate whether the relationship is beneficial or harmful to the organisms involved Mutual symbiosis or mutualism occurs when both species gain

Symbiotic Relationships
Symbiosis refers to an intimate relationship between two organisms. This term does not indicate whether the relationship is beneficial or harmful to the organisms involved. Mutual symbiosis, or mutualism, occurs when both species gain some benefit from the relationship, whereas parasitism consists of a relationship in which one of the organisms benefits, while the other one is harmed. A third symbiotic relationship is that of commensalism. In commensalism, the relationship is beneficial to one of the organisms while the other neither benefits nor
is harmed. A commensal organism can be either obligate or facultative. The obligate commensal cannot survive without
its symbiotic partner. The facultative commensal can be found either living with its symbiotic partner or on its own.