1. Pollination: The relationship between bees and flowers is an example of mutualism. Bees collect nectar from flowers and in the process, transfer pollen from the male parts of one flower to the female parts of another flower, leading to fertilization and the production of seeds. Bees benefit from the nectar while flowers benefit from the pollen transfer.
2. Cleaning symbiosis: Some fish, such as the cleaner wrasse, have a mutualistic relationship with other fish. The cleaner wrasse cleans parasites and dead skin off the other fish, in exchange for food. The other fish benefit from being cleaned and the cleaner wrasse benefits from the food it receives.
3. Nitrogen fixation: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in nodules on the roots of certain plants, such as legumes. The bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that the plants can use for growth, while the plants provide the bacteria with nutrients and a place to live. Both the plant and bacteria benefit from this mutualistic relationship.
3 examples of mutualism
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