Which type of symbiotic relationship benefits both species involved?

Mutualism is the type of symbiotic relationship that benefits both species involved. In mutualistic interactions, both organisms gain advantages from the relationship, which may include resources such as food, protection, or other benefits that enhance their survival and reproduction.

For example, consider the relationship between bees and flowering plants. Bees obtain nectar from the flowers, which serves as food, while the flowering plants benefit from the bees' pollination services, allowing them to reproduce more effectively. This reciprocal advantage is the hallmark of mutualism, distinguishing it from other relationships like commensalism, wherein one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed, and parasitism, where one organism benefits at the expense of another. In competition, organisms struggle for the same resources, which can negatively impact one or both species involved, rather than foster a beneficial relationship.