Which of the following statements about mutualisms is false?
a. over time, the two partners involved in a mutualism may become increasingly interdependent.
b. mutualisms are subject to natural selection.
c. individuals involved in a mutualism pay some costs associated with that mutualism.
d. the partners in a mutualism are trying to each other out.
e. in a mutualism, both partners benefit from the interaction.

Option C it's false.

Mutualism is a biological interaction, where the two individual benefit and improve their biological fitness. Mutualism differs from other interactions in which one species benefits at the expense of another or other species. Mutualism is not negative and doesn't have costs to pay since it is a fusion of mutual cooperation.

explanation:

with the profits from the european sales, merchants purchased europe's manufactured  goods, including tools and weapons. then the merchants shipped those manufactured  goods, along with the  american  sugar and rum, to west africa where they were bartered for  slaves.