In a soil environment, two species of bacteria, Bacterium A…
In a soil environment, two species of bacteria, Bacterium A and Bacterium B, live in close proximity. Bacterium A is capable of breaking down complex organic molecules in the soil into simpler compounds. Bacterium B cannot break down these complex molecules on its own, but it benefits by absorbing the simpler compounds released by Bacterium A. Bacterium A, however, is unaffected by the presence of Bacterium B and continues its metabolic activity as usual. Which of the following terms best describes the interaction between Bacterium A and Bacterium B?