(9) Mutualism

Generalist

a species that interacts with many other species (e.g. bee pollinators)

Specialist

Species that interact with one or a few species (e.g. clown fish and sea anemone)

Obligate Mutualists

Two species that provide fitness benefits to each other and require each other to persist, e.g. yucca moth and yucca trees

Facultative mutualists

Two species that provide fitness benefits to each other, but whose interactions are not critical to the persistence of either species

Endomycorrhizal fungi

fungi characterized by hyphal threads that extend far out into the soil and penetrate root cells between the cell wall and the cell membrane; also known as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Ectomycorrhizal fungi

fungi characterized by hyphae that surround the roots of plants and enter between root cells but barely enter the cells

Mutualism to acquire resources

e.g. greater honey guide birds and people to find and get honey

defense mutualism

e.g. Ants and Acacia Trees