MUTALISM

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__**Mutualism**__ Mutualism is a biological interaction that benefits both the host and the parasite. Which means each individual derives a fitness benefit, like survival. Most mutualisms are facultative, meaning the partners can successfully live apart. However, some mutualisms interact with certain species so long that they can no longer live without each other because they are dependent of the other. Mutualism plays a key part in ecology and evolutionary biology. For example, mutualistic interactions are vital for more than 70% of land plants because they rely on relationships with fungi to provide them with inorganic compounds and trace elements. ======

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**//Examples//:**  ======
 * Flowers and their pollinators are a common and universal form of mutualism. ** In essence the male gametes (pollen) from the stamens of the flower are moved (by some process) to the female reproductive organs (the style and ovary) to create the plant seed. **The plant has to attract a pollinator by its shape, color and smell. Also the flowers aroma is used to reward the pollinator with food so that he will visit other plants of this species. One example is a bee that is drinking the flowers nectar and at the same time taking the flowers pollen – on the next bloom the pollen will stick to the female stigma.

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 * Plants have evolved to disperse ** their seeds as berries and fruits that are eaten by birds or mammals. ** Higher plats have another mutualistic ** relationship with animals, in this case birds and mammals. Once fertilization has occurred and the plant has developed seeds, the seeds must be moved away from the mother plant to germinate and grow into new individuals otherwise their developing seedlings and new plants will compete with the mother plant for space and nutrients. **

Most are moved by passively sticking to passing mammals. The burrs and stick tight seeds you gather on your clothes as you wander through fields and woods are examples. Including this, they pass thruogh the digestive system and are resistant until the animal secretes them elsewhere.

The honeyguide bird (left [duh]) helps the honey badger (right [also duh]) by leading the badger to a discovered bee hive. The badger proceedes to tear the hive apart in order to eat the honey while the bird feasts on the bee larvae and pupae.

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