How can obligate mutualism be a problem?

Answer 1

(1)Obligate mutualism can be modeled successfully, by making carrying capacities and growth rates co-dependent, and by making the isoclines non-linear, but that's beyond our scope

(2) These models reinforce the important point that competitive and beneficial interactions aren't necessarily all that different, and often only require relatively-minor modifications of the environment and/or life histories to switch among them

(3) Example: Switch from competition to mutualism

(a) at sites with low water stress, juveniles of the Piñon pine compete with the Apache plume for light

(b) at sites with high water stress, the presence of shading by the shrub facilitates growth of juveniles of the pine