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What is the difference between mutualism and synergism?
What is the difference between mutualism and synergism?1) In a synergistic relationship, both organisms benefit, but in a mutualistic relationship both organisms are harmed.
2) In a mutualistic relationship, both organisms benefit, but in a synergistic relationship both organisms are harmed.
3) In a synergistic relationship, the organisms cannot survive without each other.
4) In a mutualistic relationship, the organisms are dependent upon each other.
Final answer:Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit, such as bees and flowers, or fungi and plants. Synergism describes a scenario where actors combined have a greater effect than individually, but it does not refer to a specific ecological interaction where participants are harmed or entirely dependent on each other. So, the correct answer is option 2) In a mutualistic relationship, both organisms benefit, but in a synergistic relationship both organisms are harmed.Explanation:The main difference between mutualism and synergism revolves around the interaction and dependency between organisms involved in these relationships. Mutualism pertains to a form of symbiosis where both organisms involved benefit from the relationship. Examples of mutualistic relationships include the association between bees and flowers, where bees get nectar for food while pollinating the flowers, or fungi that form mutualistic associations with plants, aiding in nutrient absorption, while the fungi receive carbohydrates from the plant.Synergism can be considered a broader concept where the combined effect of two or more actors (which can be organisms, substances, or other entities) is greater than the sum of their individual effects. This term is not typically used to describe a specific ecological interaction in biology like mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism are. While synergism could be seen in pharmacology or other fields, where combining drugs leads to a heightened effect, it does not describe a symbiotic relationship where organisms are harmed or utterly dependent on each other to survive. Therefore, options 1, 2, and 3 in the question are not descriptions of mutualism or synergism....