Question

Define commensalism?

Answer 1

Hint: Commensalism, mutualism and parasitism are forms of relationships which are symbiotic. A symbiotic relationship is characterized in biology as a close relationship between two different organisms that survives over the long term. In scenarios such as intensified global warming, community ecologists research species interactions and create mathematical models that can forecast how changes in one species can impact another.

Complete answer:
Commensalism is a type of long-term biological association (symbiosis) in which members of one species gain benefits, whereas those of the other species are neither beneficial nor affected.

This is in contrast to mutualism, in which all animals benefit from each other; amensalism, in which one is harmed while the other is unaffected; parasitism, in which one is harmed while the other benefits; and parasitoidism, which is similar to parasitism, but provides the parasitoid with a free-living state, and eventually ends up killing it rather than only harming the host. The commensal (species obtained by the association) can obtain nutrients, defense, protection, or locomotion from the host species, which is substantially unchanged.

Some scientists claim that every close association between two species is unlikely to be purely neutral on either hand, and that partnerships known as commensals are likely to be mutualistic or parasitic in a complex fashion that has not been developed.

Note: Epiphytes, for example, are "nutritional pirates" that can intercept vast numbers of nutrients that go to the host plant otherwise. The plants of the host may be split or shaded tree legs and reduce their photosynthesis rate by large amounts of epiphytes. Phoretic mites can also block their host by trouble flying, which can have an effect on their aerial search.