Which term is used for a relationship where both organisms benefit?

The term used to describe a relationship where both organisms benefit is mutualism. In mutualistic relationships, both species involved gain advantages that help them survive and reproduce. For example, certain plants and pollinators interact in a way that benefits both—the plant receives assistance in reproduction through pollination, and the pollinator gains access to nectar and food.

Commensalism, in contrast, refers to a relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. Parasitism involves one organism benefiting at the expense of another, leading to harm for the host. Predation describes a relationship where one organism benefits by consuming another, resulting in harm to the prey. Mutualism stands apart as a symbiotic relationship with reciprocal benefits, highlighting the cooperative nature of certain ecological interactions.