What type of symbiotic relationship exists when both organisms benefit?

The correct answer is mutualism, which describes a type of symbiotic relationship in which both organisms involved benefit from the interaction. In mutualistic relationships, the advantages can take various forms, such as providing food, shelter, transportation, or even help with reproduction.

For example, in the relationship between bees and flowering plants, bees receive nectar as a food source, while plants benefit from the pollination services that bees provide, allowing them to reproduce more effectively. This mutual benefit encourages both species to thrive together.

Other types of symbiotic relationships do not involve mutual benefits. Parasitism, for instance, is a relationship in which one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other organism, the host, often causing harm. Commensalism describes a relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. Conservation does not refer to a symbiotic relationship; instead, it generally refers to efforts to protect and preserve natural resources and the environment.