Which ecological interaction is characterized by both organisms benefiting?

The interaction characterized by both organisms benefiting is mutualism. In mutualistic relationships, both species involved gain advantages that are essential for their survival, growth, or reproduction. For example, bees and flowering plants demonstrate mutualism: bees obtain nectar as food while aiding in the pollination of the plants, which helps them reproduce. This positive interaction enhances both species' abilities to thrive, making it a distinct form of ecological relationship.

In contrast, commensalism involves one organism benefiting while the other is neither helped nor harmed. Parasitism is a relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other, often harming the host. Predation is a relationship where one organism (the predator) benefits by feeding on another organism (the prey), which ultimately leads to the prey's detriment.