What type of mutual interaction benefits both species involved?

Mutualism is a type of mutual interaction where both species involved benefit from the relationship. In this interaction, each organism provides something that the other needs, leading to a positive outcome for both parties. For example, bees and flowering plants engage in mutualism: bees collect nectar from flowers for food while simultaneously helping in the pollination process, which is crucial for the plant's reproduction.

In contrast, competition describes an interaction where species vie for the same resources, leading to a win-lose scenario; one species may thrive while the other suffers. Commensalism involves one species benefiting while the other is neither helped nor harmed, which does not fit the criteria of mutual benefit. Parasitism represents a relationship where one species benefits at the expense of another, typically resulting in harm to the host organism. Therefore, mutualism is the only interaction among the options that ensures both species derive advantages from their association.