Mutualism (biology) - Humans and Mutualism

Humans and Mutualism

Humans also engage in mutualisms with other species, including their gut flora (without which they would not be able to digest food efficiently). Some mutualistic relationships between humans and animals have been the result of domestication.

In behavioural science, social structures produce mutual relationships. It is experienced between individuals and groups for a shared benefit, by physical exchange or communication and is generally considered an act of good faith on equal terms. A mutual relationship is commonly found to be a result of a intrinsic or extrinsic motivation, a reasoned and rational choice or stemming from a common empathy and emotion. Human mutualism however is also thought to be or originate from an evolutionary survival instinct, to work in groups safely and achieve multiple tasks efficiently as a community.

In traditional agriculture, many plants will function mutualistically as companion plants, providing each other with shelter, soil fertility and/or natural pest control. For example, beans may grow up cornstalks as a trellis, while fixing nitrogen in the soil for the corn, a phenomenon that is used in Three Sisters farming.