What is the term for a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit?

The term for a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit is mutualism. In a mutualistic relationship, both organisms engage in interactions that provide advantages to one another, which can include food, protection, or habitat. An example of mutualism is the relationship between bees and flowering plants; bees get nectar for food, while the plants benefit from the pollination that bees provide, allowing them to reproduce.

In contrast, commensalism describes a relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. Symbiosis is a broader term encompassing any type of close interaction between species, which includes mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. Parasitism, on the other hand, involves one organism benefiting at the expense of another, causing harm to the host organism. Thus, mutualism specifically highlights the positive impact that both participants have on each other.