6. ESSAY: Theory predicts that there are both costs and benefits to mutualisms.

Question

6. ESSAY: Theory predicts that there are both costs and benefits to mutualisms. When do you expect a mutualism to successfully evolve. When do you expect a mutualism to fail. Discuss, IN DETAIL, a mutualistic relationship between organisms we covered in class. Compare and contrast that mutualism with another. How do you think the costs compare and contrast with the benefits? Can you imagine a situation in which a mutualism might break down? In other words, is it possible for a mutualism to turn into a different type of interaction (e.g., parasitism, commensalism, predation, etc.) or into no interaction at all?

Explanation / Answer

Mutualism or symbiosis is interaction between two different species of organisms. In this interaction both organisms are benefites and the cost and benefit are balanced or at eqilibrium. The most prevalent symbiotic association is observed between legume plants and Rhizobium bacteria. The Rhizobium is capable of fixing nitrogen of atmosphere. Therefore, Rhizobium colonizes in root zone of leguminous plants and enter the roots forming the root nodules. The oot nodules provide the shelter and anoxic environment required for nitrogen fixation. The leguminous plants also provide some nutrients to these bacteria. in turn, the Rhizobia provide the atmospheric fixed nitrogen to plants. Therefore, the ineraction result in benefit to each other. Mutualism usually may not turn into other type of interaction like parasitism in which one of the partners is harmed. it may turn into commensalism where by accumulating nitrogen fixed in rhizosphere of soil but not benefited by plant . There may be no interaction between leguminous plants and Rhizobia and bacteria may become free living in only certain conditions.

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