For example, consider old man’s beard lichen. It looks like a plant but it actually consists of two organisms; fungus and algae living in a mutualistic relationship. They need each other to thrive and survive. The fungus protects the algae from the environment and is a moisture source while algae produce food for both. They are at their best and most healthy when they work together. This is known as a mutual symbiosis. While ecologists debate the nuances of these relationships, the takeaway...