Question

A scientist does a study in which she manipulates the presence of a microbe that lives in plant roots. When a particular microbe is present, the plants grow more vigorously and have higher fitness. Based on these results alone, can the researcher conclude that this is a mutualism between the plant and the microbe?

Answer 1

Answer: No

Explanation:

Mutualism is a kind of symbiotic relationship when two species lives in close association with each other to complete their life cycle. In this relationship both the species receives the benefit of association.

The given situation is not an example of mutualism this is because of the fact that in the association with the microbes the plants are more fit but the situation does not describe the fact that the microbe is also getting any benefit of association.