Ecology
Mutualism
A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction. Both partners gain resources, protection, or other advantages they couldn't obtain alone.
Biological Context
Bees and flowers: bees get nectar, flowers get pollinated. Clownfish and anemones: fish get protection, anemones get cleaned. Mycorrhizal fungi and plants: fungi get sugars, plants get nutrients. Mutualism can become so essential that neither partner survives alone (obligate mutualism).
Business Application
Business mutualisms: partnerships where both sides genuinely benefit. Platforms and developers, franchisors and franchisees, complementary product makers. True mutualisms are stable; asymmetric relationships eventually break down.