Mutualism - Practice Questions & MCQ

• It is an interaction that confers benefits to both the interacting species.

Some examples of mutualism are:

• Lichens represent an intimate mutualistic relationship between a fungus and photosynthesizing algae or cyanobacteria. Here, the fungus helps in the absorption of nutrients and provides protection, while algae prepare the food.
• Mycorrhizae are a close mutual association between fungi and the roots of higher plants. Fungi help the plant for absorption of nutrients, while the plant provides food for the fungus.
• Plants need help from animals for pollination and dispersal of seeds. In return, plants provide nectar, pollen and fruits to the pollinators.
  • For example, the female wasp uses the fig fruit not only as an oviposition (egg-laying) site but uses the developing seeds within the fruit for nourishing its larvae. The wasp pollinates the fig inflorescence, while searching for suitable egg-laying sites. In return, fig provides the wasp some seeds as food for the developing wasp larvae.
• Mediterranean Orchid, Ophrys employs ‘sexual deceit’ to get pollinated by a species of bee. One petal of its flower bears an uncanny resemblance to the female of the bee in size, colour and markings.
  • The male bee is attracted to what it perceives as a female, ‘pseudo copulates’ with the flower, and during that process is dusted with pollen from the flower.
  • When this same bee ‘pseudo copulates’ with another flower, it transfers pollen to it and thus, pollinates the flower.