Commensalism - Definition, types and examples

In nature there are symbiotic relationships between the different organisms to achieve an end.There are relationships where one of the parties obtains very negative results, as in cases of predation or parasitism.In other relationships, sometimes, not even everyone involved knows that they are part of a relationship.This is the case of commensalism.

In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will discover the definition of commensalism, we will see what types exist and some examples of commensalism.Keep reading!

What is commensalism?

Biological commensalism is defined as the relationship between two organisms of different species, where one of them benefits and the other does not get anything , neither positive nor negative.of the relationship for one of them is neutral.

Commensalism is a type of symbiosis that, unlike others, such as parasitism or predation, does not result in a negative ending for any of the parties involved On the other hand, the difference between mutualism and commensalism is that, in the first case, both individuals obtain benefits.

Commensalism in microbiology has also been widely studied., in a column of water, microorganisms that live closer to the surface usually benefit from sunlight, essential for their development.Their waste substances travel through the water column until they reach the bottom, where sunlight is scarce and oxygen.Here, anaerobic microorganism (who do not need oxygen to live) take as substances and energy sources the substances that arrive from the surface.

The microorganisms of the bottom benefit from the microorganisms of surfaces, while these do not obtain anything.highlight here the term amensalism .Contrary to commensalism, in these relationships one of the parties is harmed while the other remains immutable.It is the case of certain fungi such as Penicillium , which secrete antibiotics preventing the proliferation of bacteria.

Types of commensalism

When studying the relationships established between living beings, the great variety that exists forces us to subclassify commensalism into three different types, since there is no single way in which the animals of mutualism benefit:

Foresis : the term foresis refers to the relationship that is established between two species when one of them transports the other.In most cases, the transporter He is not even aware that he is transporting another living being.
Tenancy : Tenancy occurs when one species occupies the body of another to live, without causing any discomfort.
Metabiosis : This type of commensalism is very common in the animal kingdom.It occurs when a species feeds on the waste of another, such as its feces or the body itself in decomposition or the case of anaerobic microorganisms that we discussed before.

Examples of commensalism

There are many commensalist relationships in the animal kingdom.Many of these relationships occur between members of this kingdom with organisms from the plant kingdom.Some of these examples are:

1.Comensalism between opiliones and ants

In certain areas of Argentina, where this relationship has been discovered, the climate is very dry, which makes the presence of opiliones impossible, social animals belonging to the order of the arachnids.The ant hills offer a more humid microclimate that favors the opiliones.These live inside the anthill without causing the ants benefits or harms.

2.Comensalismo between the giant lizard of the island of El Hierro ( Gallotia simonyi ) and the yellow-headed gull ( Larus michahellis )

Non-volatile chickens of this species of gull regurgitates part of the food when they feel very full or are bothered by other adult seagulls.Then, the giant lizard will benefits feeding on the regurgitated insects by the seagull chicken.

3.Comensalism between vulgar finches ( Fringilla coelebs ) and black starlings ( Sturnus unicolor )

Starlings, in Leon, to the northwest of Spain, they feed on blackberries in summer.When they eat they drop seeds on the ground or on the leaves of the mulberry.Finches, granivorous animals, search between the leaves and the ground, the discarded seeds for starlings , taking them even directly from the feces of starlings.

4.Canalism among flies and ham mites

This is a very curious example of foresis.Ham dryers sometimes have problems with losacaros, that bite the ham and invalidate it for sale.The hams are hung on the ceiling so the invasion poracaros would seem complicated.These animals are mounted on the flies that they visit the hams.When they arrive at a ham, the mites get off the fly.The flies do not get anything, they do not even realize that they are transporting mites.

5.Comensalism between birds Yarns

Birds that nest in trees get this protection n and a place to build your nest.Trees don't get anything, neither positive nor negative.

If you want to read more articles similar to Commensalism-Definition, types and examples , we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.

Bibliography

GMFH Editing Team.(2015).Women's (bacterium).Gut microbiota for health.
Hernandez, A.(2000).Women's feminism between vulgar finches Fringilla coelebs and starlings Blacks Sturnus unicolor in the consumption of blackberries Morus nigra-.Ardeola, 47 (1), 89-92.
Maury, EA,&Pilati, A.(1996).Riosegundo birabeni (Canals) , 1943) (Opiliones, Gonyleptidae) in anteaters of Acromyrmex lobicornis (Emery, 1887) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).Review of the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences, 142, 1-7.
Siverio, F.,&Felipe, P.(2009).Women's feminism between lizard gig ante de El Hierro (Gallotia simonyi) and yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) in the roque Chico de Salmor.Parasitology, 84, 454-456.

Comments

10 reasons to walk your dog

The dog is an animal that needs to walk 2 to 3 times a day, But do you know why that is so? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain why it is so important to walk with your dog, why the garden does not replace the walk and many other things that, perhaps you do not know. Do not forget This is a very important habit that you must carry out on a daily basis.Not doing so can be very harmful for your pet, do not forget it.Keep reading and discover 10 reasons to walk with your dog . 1.They must make their needs The first reason, and the most important , to take a dog for a walk, is to allow him to do his needs until he is satisfied. Apart from puppies that are not yet able to go outside or who are learning to urinate, it is very negative to allow our dog to urinate and defecate at home.In addition to causing a bad smell, we will be creating an unhealthy environment important that can lead to serious health problems in dogs and humans. 2.It allows them to ...

Bach flowers for cats

In the last few years we hear frequent talk of Bach flowers, also applied to our Companion animals.There are more and more numerous cases treated with this therapy, as well as veterinary professionals who are trained in this discipline.In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will focus on cats to discover what Bach flowers are, which These are the benefits and uses they can have for our cats.If you've ever heard of these Bach flowers for cats , you're interested in reading! What are Bach flowers? The 38 extracts of flowers and plants discovered by the English doctor Edward Bach in the early twentieth century are called.This doctor chose plants that acted on different conditions that could experience the human beings, such as fear, sadness, anger or hyperactivity.Prepared these plants in the form of dilutions that conserved with alcohol in a dropper to facilitate their use.Various drops were administered directly several times a day or put in the water or even in t...

British shorthair - British shorthair cat: features and photos

The british shorthair , Also known as British shorthair cat , it is considered one of the oldest and most popular breeds in Britain.Are you thinking of adopting one? Do you want to know more about this breed? In this breed of Expert Expert we will show you everything you need to know about british shorthair, including features, character or all the colors that are allowed according to the standard, such as the classic "blue", white or smoked. Here we explain everything about the British shorthair or British shorthair cat: British shorthair origin The British shorthair is considered one of the oldest feline races .Some theories suggest that it was the Roman invaders who tried to invade Great Britain in the first century BC .who wore the direct ancestors of the breed from Egypt.These cats crossed with native cats, giving way to cats of robust constitution and dense fur. According to different standards, You can consider that the morphology of this breed has varied m...

How to avoid the smell of wet dog?

If you have ever bathed your dog, enjoyed a day of Beach or pool next to it, or just out for a walk on a rainy day, surely you know the famous "wet dog smell".This peculiar and unattractive aroma that dogs emit when they are wet, is so recognized in our culture that many use the expression "wet dog smell" to refer to something or someone that smells really bad. If you wonder how to avoid the smell of wet dog in your best friend, you have entered the right place.New Animals and Pets Online article, we explain why dogs smell bad when they get wet, and we offer you home remedies and infallible tips to prevent the smell of wet dog in your home.You can't miss it! Why do dogs smell bad when they get wet? Do you wonder what causes wet dog smell? How to remove bad dog smell? Then, you should know that this is something inherent to the nature and organism of our hairy animals.Although we can decrease the intensity of this smell, we should not attempt to neutralize...

Salmonellosis in rodents

Today rodents have become excellent companion animals and there are numerous people that in their house they have guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, gerbils, squirrels, chinchillas or irons. Rodents are active and sociable pets that although they require care they are easy to keep in good condition, however, they are susceptible of contracting multiple diseases and can even transmit some of them to humans, as is the case of salmonellosis. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we show you how to prevent salmonellosis in rodents. What is salmonellosis? Salmonellosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella Typhimurium , which is usually found in chickens and their eggs as well as in some reptiles such as turtles. This pathogen is also known as Salmonella Enterica , a term that refers to the intestine since it mainly affects this body area, hence It manifests mainly through diarrhea, vomiting and nausea, not only in humans, since these signs are also visible in infec...

Distribution of the wild cat in Spain

The wildcat in Spain is distributed in the most recondite, rugged and lonely forest areas of our peninsula.It is an animal that is very negatively influenced by the proximity of the human being. The proliferation of urbanizations throughout the Spanish territory has pushed back the habitat of this beautiful wild feline.In this article Animals and Pets Online I will discover some places where this jewel of nature is still found. Discover the distribution of the wildcat in Spain , yes, never with the intention of harming the species, rather as a tool to enjoy the wild animals that still inhabit the peninsula. Personal experience A few years ago I was riding a bike through a very secluded forest, close to the tiny town of Espoya.Pueblo next to Capellades, in the province of Barcelona, I stumbled upon leaving a bend in a stony path with a wild cat perched on a thick and thick tree . I hope the big cat got scared as much as I did, which I guess lost a few months of life as a ...

Mediterranean rock fish

In the Mediterranean sea coast there is a very rich fauna and diverse.There are surface, medium and deep water fishes.And among the fish that live in the depths of the coast, the Mediterranean rock fish stand out. Many of these fish are masters of camouflage and can adopt an indistinguishable aspect, identical to that of the rock where they are seated.Others live hidden among the cracks and fissures of the underwater rockery. If you continue reading the Animals and Pets Online we will show you the most characteristic rock fish of the Mediterranean . Small size rock fish In the riverside rocks, part of which emerge out of the water, there are several species of small-sized rock fish .Next we will relate the most common ones. Maiden- Coris julis -, beautiful fish of vivid colors. Vaqueta -Serranus scriba -, very common serranido of the shallow waters. Castanuela- Chromis chromis -, a very small fish that lives in small shoals among the rocky shoals. Barriguda- Par...

Syringomyelia in dogs - Symptoms and treatment

Dogs have a complex organism, they even bear some similarities with the anatomy and Human physiology, therefore, are many structures susceptible to some disease. Some of these diseases that can affect our pets are neurological , affecting the central nervous system and finally causing important physical disorders that must be treated.In this article of Animals and Pets Online we talk about one of these disorders, the syringomyelia in dogs and show you what are your symptoms and treatment . What is syringomyelia? Syringomyelia is a pathology that originates from a anatomical disorder known as Type-Chiari Malformation or CM . This malformation consists of a size of skull that is too small to properly accommodate the brain mass.This disproportion is evidenced mainly in the caudal fossa or back of the cranial structure.This eventually causes an alteration in the normal movement of the cephalo-spinal fluid, which results in syringomyelia. Syringomyelia is a disorder that...

Ragdoll cat diseases

The ragdoll cats belong to a giant cat breed that It originates in the United States, from various crossings between other races, such as the Persian, the Siamese and the Sacred of Burma.In the last decades, these felines have become very popular as companion animals, for their remarkable beauty and behavior temperate.They are loyal and affectionate cats that establish a very special bond with their tutors and who need company to lead a healthy and happy life. In general, ragdoll cats have They are in very good health and have a longevity that is around 10 years.However, they need to receive adequate preventive medicine and essential care to preserve their good health and maintain a balanced behavior. In Animals and Pets Online you will find information about the basic care of ragd oll, but this time we invite you to know the diseases of the ragdoll cat so that you can provide an optimal quality of life to your feline companion.Read on! Inbreeding in ragdoll cats Inbree...

The 10 best parents of the animal kingdom

Nature is wise and proof of this are these incredible parents who do even impossible to move on to the next generation.Animals and Pets Online we bring you this interesting list with the 10 most exemplary parents of the animal kingdom , discover who are the ones that most protect their offspring, those who expose their lives and the ones who sacrifice the most. Surely you already know some of them, but maybe you didn't know the incredible parents they can become.If you are a father you may understand many of these behaviors, since Fatherhood is a condition that not only applies to human beings.So if you discover with us that to be a good father in the animal kingdom , you don't always need big claws or be huge, let yourself be surprised and get to know the curiosities of these wonderful animals. 1.Emperor penguin These impressive birds have to have a place in our list and it is precisely that the total surrender of the parents of this species of penguins is a character...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog