https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutualism_(biology)
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Mutualism describes the ecological interaction between two or more species where each species has a net benefit
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Mutualism plays a key part in ecology and evolution… Mutualism has also been linked to major evolutionary events,
- see also symbiosis
Mutualism is about abundance — not a limited pie. the very act of connection creates energy. Examples in what I’ve worked on or done that come to mind:
Types
- resources-resource relationships
- Service-resource relationships
- service-service relationships: two or more species do acts of service for one another
- With humans, compliments are free energy
Measurement
Measuring the exact fitness benefit to the individuals in a mutualistic relationship is not always straightforward, particularly when the individuals can receive benefits from a variety of species, for example most plant-pollinator mutualisms. It is therefore common to categorise mutualisms according to the closeness of the association, using terms such as obligate and facultative. Defining “closeness”, however, is also problematic. It can refer to mutual dependency (the species cannot live without one another) or the biological intimacy of the relationship in relation to physical closeness (e.g., one species living within the tissues of the other species).[8]
- obligation is an interesting term to use here. In biology, obligation means “cannot survive without” (i.e. obligate aerobe, one that cannot survive without oxygen). Perhaps humans are obligate socialites — we cannot survive without social interaction. Mutualism feels like an obligation in that sense. We cannot survive without depending on others and helping others. We go crazy if we try to and lash out in all kinds of ways.