• Otter@lemmy.ca
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    5 months ago

    My guess is that it’s a simpler word that is more memorable and ‘biological’ sounding. So people are more likely to remember it over mutualism

    • spankinspinach@sh.itjust.works
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      5 months ago

      There’s also a level of understanding vs. utility involved. Being aware that there are subtypes of symbiotic relationship doesn’t necessitate using them in day to day conversation, as most ppl just remember that they learned about the category.

      To biologists, however, there’s a world of difference.