There are two main types of mutualism: symbiotic and non-symbiotic. In symbiotic mutualism, both parties involved benefit from the relationship. This type of mutualism is often seen in nature, where two species help each other exist. For example, many plants have a mutualistic relationship with bees; the bees collect nectar from the flowers and spread pollen, which helps the plant reproduce (Schupp et al., 2017). Non-symbiotic mutualism is less common and refers to a situation where one party benefits while the other is unaffected.
Non-symbiotic mutualisms are typically classified by their evolutionary origins, which can be either genetic or ecological. Examples of genetic non-symbiotic mutualisms include the interaction between a virus and a bacterium, in which the virus uses the bacterium as a host to replicate without harming the bacterium (Ballarin et al., 2019). An ecological non-symbiotic mutualism example is the interaction between a fungus and an alga, in which the fungus provides nutrients to the alga in exchange for photosynthesis products.
An example of symbiotic mutualism can be the relationship between coral and algae. The coral provides a place for the algae to live, and in return, the algae provide food for the coral. Algae produce oxygen that helps keep the coral alive (Schupp et al., 2017). A third example of symbiotic mutualism is the relationship between humans and bacteria that live in their intestines. The bacteria help humans digest food, while the human intestine provides the resident bacteria with nutrients.
One way that non-symbiotic mutualisms can affect my daily life is by providing beneficial services. For example, Lactobacillus microbes in my gut help in food digestion and nutrient absorption, while Bacteroidetes protect me from harmful pathogens (Stojanov et al., 2020). Similarly, symbiotic mutualisms affect my daily life by helping to pollinate the plants that I consume, which would otherwise not be possible.
References
Ballarin, C. S., Hachuy-Filho, L., Sanz-Veiga, P. A., & Amorim, F. W. (2019). The resource-mediated modular structure of a non-symbiotic ant-plant mutualism. Ecological Entomology, 9. Web.
Schupp, E. W., Jordano, P., & Gómez, J. M. (2017). A general framework for effectiveness concepts in mutualisms. Ecology Letters, 20(5), 577-590. Web.
Stojanov, S., Berlec, A., & Štrukelj, B. (2020). The influence of probiotics on the firmicutes/bacteroidetes ratio in the treatment of obesity and inflammatory bowel disease. Microorganisms, 8(11), 1715. Web.