Final answer:
Symbiosis typically involves interactions where at least one species benefits, with types like mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism, and is generally less destructive than competition for resources, which can severely impact species populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Symbiosis is generally less harmful to organisms compared to competition because it involves different types of interactions where at least one participating species benefits. In mutualism, both species benefit, such as the case with termites and the protists that live in their gut helping to digest cellulose. On the other hand, commensalism describes a scenario where one species benefits while the other is not affected, exemplified by birds nesting in trees that don't harm the tree. Even in parasitism, where one species benefits at the expense of the other, the damage is often less severe than the effects of direct competition for resources between species. Competition can lead to the exclusion of one species by another, significantly impacting population levels and biodiversity. Resource partitioning allows for coexistence by reducing direct competition, as species evolve to use different resources or occupy different niche spaces.