Remora receive food, while the shark receives grooming.Clownfish live within the protective tentacles of the sea anemone. Mutualism is the way two organisms of different species exist in a relationship in which each individual benefits from the activity of the other. Symbiosis between Oxpecker and Buffalo. A mutualistic relationship forms when two different species each benefit by working closely together. Remora provide a beneficial service for the shark as they keep its skin clean of parasites. Mutualism – both species benefit. The ants herd the aphids along the plant, protecting them from potential predators and moving them to prime locations for acquiring sap. The supposed difference between commensalism and other types of symbiosis is that in commensalism, the second party or host remains unaffected. (Ref. These bacteria aid in the digestion of organic compounds that otherwise would not be digested. Commensalism In a commensal relationship, one species benefits and there is a neutral effect on the other—it neither benefits nor is harmed. Mutualism can be contrasted with interspecific competition, in which each species experienc A bee, for instance, pollinates a flower as it collects nectar from various flowers to turn it into food. The plant uses the ammonia for growth and development, while the bacteria receive nutrients and a suitable place to grow.Some ant species herd aphids in order to have a constant supply of honeydew that the aphids produce. Mutualisms may involve either the exchange of resources, such as shelter, food and other nutrients, or they may involve the exchange of services, such as protection, transportation or healthcare.Once she has laid her eggs, the queen dies and her body is digested, providing nourishment for the fig. The protists themselves also have a symbiotic relationship with the bacteria that live in their gut, without which they could not digest cellulose. The bacteria receive nutrients and housing, while their hosts receive digestive benefits and protection against pathogenic microbes.Some ant species farm aphids and other insects that feed on sap. The protists digest the cellulose contained in the wood, releasing nutrients for the benefit of the termite. Mutualism definition, a relationship between two species of organisms in which both benefit from the association. In obligatory symbiosis, one or both organisms are entirely dependent on the relationship and will die without it. Mutualism describes the ecological interaction between two or more species where each species has a net benefit. Conversely, organisms in facultative relationships can live independently from each other.Parasitism is a relationship where one symbiont benefits (the parasite) and the other (the host) is harmed in some way and may eventually die. It is one of the symbiotic relationships occurring in nature. In facultative mutualism, both organisms benefit from but are not dependent upon their relationship for survival.Bacteria live in the intestines and on the body of humans and other mammals. Mutualism Definition. This relationship between termites and protists is obligatory—the termites would die of starvation without the protists to digest their food.Commensal relationships are sometimes hard to identify because it can be difficult proving that one symbiont does not benefit in some way from the relationship.Symbiosis can take two forms known as obligatory and facultative.