Peez

I did use the right words, if perhaps a little liberally, and it was no more simplistic than it had to be in this forum. Please see my post in the other thread.

Peez

SULPHUR

Try the OED next time

Tara

(dictionary.com)
mu·tu·al·ism ( P ) Pronunciation Key (mych--lzm)
n.
An association between organisms of two different species in which each member benefits.

mutualism An interaction between two species in which both species benefit.


Why does mutualism have to imply symbiosis? I'm not sure that it does... in which case since a plant's fitness is increased by the process of artificial selection to a farmer's specification (benefit), the relationship would seem mutualistic to me.

SULPHUR

which word is more correct in the context of an algae,fungi relationship?

Tara

Does it matter, really? The point was that the crop/farmer relationship is mutualistic. Why nit-pick?... he said "similar in some ways"... You must have an agenda (?).

An algae-fungi relationship is symbiotic, and therefore inherently mutualistic, no?

SULPHUR

GO back to the original argue ments

Peez

I agree, in a general sense, and that is how I used it. However, the definition given by my biology text book gives a more restrictive definition. Bottom line: it is fine to use "mutualism" for any mutually beneficial interaction, and "symbiosis" for the same thing in popular English, but biologists use the terms more restrictively (much as they use terms like "evolution" for a more specific thing than the English word can mean).

Peez

Peez

Neither term is specific to any particular group of organisms. A relationship between an alga and a fungus could be a symbiosis, mutualism, competition, parasitism, etc.

Peez

SULPHUR

I would call it strictly symbiosis as each is entirely dependent on the other. Lichen would not survive in a harsh evironment without the ability to obtain food from two different sources. I suppose I am using the term strictly.

Peez

According to several biology text books which I consulted, symbiosis does not imply dependance or even mutual benefit. Thus, a lichen is a symbiosis because it is a close association, but then so is a tapeworm in your intestines. A lichen is also a mutualism, which is to say both organisms benefit from the symbiosis. Of course, this is only using the restrictive biology definitions.

Peez