Why are the bacteria in a termite’s stomach considered mutualistic and not parasitic?.
The bacteria in a termite's stomach are considered mutualistic and not parasitic because they form a mutually beneficial relationship with the termite. The bacteria break down cellulose in the wood that termites eat, which the termite itself cannot digest. In return, the termite provides a stable and nutrient-rich environment for the bacteria to thrive in.
Parasitic relationships, on the other hand, involve one organism benefiting at the expense of the other. In a parasitic relationship, one organism (the parasite) benefits while the other organism (the host) is harmed. In the case of the bacteria in a termite's stomach, both the termite and the bacteria benefit from each other's presence, making their relationship mutualistic.