Question

What is Symbiotic nutrition(commensalism)?

Answer 1

Hint: Earth is a natural habitat of many species, and there is no single habitat where we don’t find more than one species. So different species come together and interact with each other, these interactions are known as Interspecific interactions. These interactions may be beneficial, detrimental or neutral to both the species or one of the species involved.

Complete answer:
We are already aware that the species interact with each other. These interactions can be of different types-
a) Mutualism: where both species are benefited. Example Rhizobium bacteria present in the leguminous plants.
b) Competition: It is the relationship between organisms where both species are harmed.
c) Predation: It is the relationship between organisms where one species is benefited and the other species is killed.
d) Parasitism: It is the relationship between organisms where one species is benefited and other species is harmed. Eg-Leech.
e) Amensalism: It is the relationship between organism where one species is harmed and other species is neutral.
f) Commensalism: It is the relationship between organism where one species is benefited and other species is neutral.

Thus Symbiotic Nutrition (Commensalism) is a type of relationship between two species where one is getting benefit from the other species and the other species derives neither benefit nor harm from former species.
5) Example of such nutrition are:

S.no.	Example	Species getting benefit	Neutral Species
1.	Orchid and Mango	Orchid	Mango
2.	Barnacles and whale	Barnacle	Whale
3.	Cattle egret and Grazing cattle	Cattle egret	Grazing Cattle
4.	Sea anemone and clown fish	Clown fish	Sea anemone

Note: Commensalism and Mutualism are different, here in commensalism one species is neutral is getting no benefit from other species but in mutualism both need to get some benefit from each other like lichen where photosynthesising algae or cyanobacteria makes food and fungi provide shelter.