Why are the bacteria in a termite’s stomach considered mutualistic and not parasitic?
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Explanation:
The termite gut teems with microbes that are essential for the digestion of cellulose. Without these microbial symbionts, termites would be unable to digest wood. This is an example of mutualism, in which both the termites and the microbes benefit.
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Explanation:
In commensalism the smaller partner benefits from the relationship, with no fitness effect on the host. There are fitness gains for both partners in mutualism, and a parasite benefits by exploiting but not directly killing its host.
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