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

Brushes for long-haired cats

We must pay special attention to our cat's hair if it is long to avoid possible tangles and hairballs.For this reason and in case you have wondered, what is the best brush for long-haired cats? Animals and Pets Online makes a collection of brushes for long-haired cats , so you can go to your usual store properly informed. Read on to know why it is important to take care of your hair, what types of brushes we find in the market and what is the proper way to carry out brushing your mantle. Why it is important to brush our long-haired cat We all know that cats that have a long coat must be brushed daily to maintain it properly.By brushing we remove dead hair that is difficult to remove regularly by our pet and also greatly reduce the chances of a hairball forming in your stomach. In addition to considerably improving the quality and maintenance of hair, brushing your cat is beneficial to him, which is physically stimulated and for both of you, that you achieve a better comp...

How to scare off rats? - 10 NON-DANIN REMEDIES

Chase away rats not always easy , especially if we do not know the behavior of the species, because we talk about rodents that reproduce with extreme ease.Rats can also become unwanted visitors because, like other animals, they are capable of transmitting diseases to humans and vice versa. In homes and apartments around the world, rats find shelter and food , using minimal space and trying to go unnoticed as much as possible, so if you're wanting to know how to scare off rats , in this article of Animals and Pets Online you will discover very effective non-harmful remedies to move them away from your home and prevent them from reappearing.Keep reading! Characteristics of the rats The rats are rodents belonging to the family Muridae .They measure about 30 centimeters, they have an elongated body and pointed snout.They show a tail long and thin, as well as a short coat of dark brown, light brown or black.Also discover in Animals and Pets Online how to differentiate a ra...

My cat is obsessed with food

Your cat does not eat only everything you put, but also anything do you fall to the ground? Also, does he go crazy every time he gets the scent of a can of food that you've opened and begs for food constantly? The obsession with food is a very common problem for many caregivers of cats that do not know how to avoid or correct it, knowing that it is not a healthy dynamic for the animal.In fact, your cat could have bad behaviors and aggressive attitudes with its surroundings if it is not pleased. In this Animals and Pets Online article we will explain what to do if your cat is obsessed with food , detailing the main causes and some of the treatments that you can apply to solve this problem. Why is your cat obsessed with food? Let's go straight to the source, the food.In this area we could have the first cause.Although your cat is eating all day, is not feeding enough , thing which is very different.Analyze the physical constitution of your cat and see if it is abnorm...

Endangered animals in Spain

Every day there are more endangered species in all countries of the world.The factors for this to happen are several, habitat destruction, excessive hunting and climate change are just some of them. Spain is a territory full of animal diversity, however, in the last decades its populations have declined, leading some species, from mammals to amphibians, to be part of the blacklist of endangered animals.If you are a lover of the animal kingdom and want to know the endangered animals in Spain , continue reading this article from Animals and Pets Online and join the change to prevent them from disappearing. Imperial Iberian Eagle In the case of these majestic and large birds, by the decade of the 70s, there were only about 50 couples flying through the Iberian Peninsula to reach the north of African territory.Thanks to efforts to conserve imperial eagle they have increased to 250 couples, however, their population continues within the list of endangered animals in Spain.It is a je...

Cetaceans - Meaning, Types and Features

The cetaceans are the marine animals most famous for their presence in ancient tales and legends.They are animals that have always aroused great interest on the part of the human being.These animals, in general, are great strangers that, little by little, are disappearing without, apparently , let's do nothing. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about cetaceans, which are, their characteristics, where they live and other curiosities .Do you want to know more about these inhabitants of the sea depths? Keep reading! What are cetaceans? The order of the cetaceans is composed of two suborders, the myxicets, formed by the bearded whales, and that of the odontocetes, composed of cetaceans with teeth, such as sperm whales, dolphins and killer whales. The evolution of the cetaceans has resulted in a similarity between these two living suborders, being the result of evolutionary convergence.The common structural characteristics between the two groups, suc...

American Staffordshire terrier dog: features, photos and videos

The American Staffordshire Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier or amstaff, is a dog native to the English region of Staffordshire.Among its ancestors we find the English bulldog, the black and fire terrier, the fox terrier or the white English terrier.Later, this breed became popular in the US, where I just developed a heavier and more muscular variety than the English one. In this Animal Expert breed sheet we will detail with you everything you need to know about the American staffordshire terrier if you are thinking of adopting one: characteristics , character or education are some of the sections that you will find below, essential to consider if you want to have an amstaff in your life. Keep reading and discover everything about the American Staffordshire Terrier.Do not forget to comment and share your photographs at the end of so that other users can meet your partner: Origin of the American Staffordshire terrier The origin and early history of the American staff...

Can I bathe my dog if I just wormed him?

When is it a first time in adopting a dog, it is normal that many doubts arise about what is best for them and when it is advisable to do everything, so Animals and Pets Online solves all the questions that arise. Deworming your dog periodically is necessary to preserve their health and avoid possible diseases from the action of microorganisms, external and internal parasites, among others.If you do not know when you should bathe your dog after a deworming , keep reading this article. Why deworm the dog? You may think that deworming is not necessary, but the truth is that thanks to it you avoid your dog much discomfort, in addition to prevent diseases transmitted by parasites . Among the main parasites, both external and internal, are ticks, fleas, lice, losacaros and intestinal worms, among many others.Pruritus, hair loss, diarrhea, tick disease, and even death in the most serious cases, they are part of the consequences that cause these beings to stay in the body of your furr...

My lovebird has diarrhea - Causes and treatment

Lovebird has become one of the most frequently birds they find in our homes.Their color, their beauty, and that nickname of "inseparable" that we like so much, makes them as appreciated as the canaries were once. But the arrival of any bird, exotic or not , puts us in front of new situations that sometimes we are not accustomed to face.Animals and Pets Online will try to help distinguish pathological situations from those that are not, and to handle us in the event that our lovebird has diarrhea , In the following article we explain the possible causes that cause it . It is not always diarrhea, even if it seems We may notice that there are more liquid stools than usual in our lovebird on the floor of the cage and identify it as diarrhea, even if it is not. Evacuations Sewers in birds are made up of a greenish part (they can vary in color if they take feed, they are real feces), a white part (urates, mineral salts), and a liquid part (urine).Everything goes out...

12 invasive species in Argentina and its consequences

According to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development e , through the National Information System on Invasive Exotic Species, more than 650 invasive species were detected in Argentina .Many of these species were introduced by man, with the intention of obtaining economic benefits, "increase" the local level of sport hunting, or combat pests that were damaging agriculture or livestock. Although the idea of greater diversity in nature may seem interesting, the introduction of exotic animals and plants, Without a previous study of its environmental impact, it usually threatens the survival of the native fauna and flora of the country .In this new article of Animals and Pets Online, we present the main 12 invasive alien species in Argentina and its consequence s for the country's ecosystem. 1.Pinto starling (Sturnus vulgaris) The introduction of these birds is very recent in Argentina, but it already generates great concern for its impact on fauna...

Clean a dog's ears step by step

Cleaning the ears of the dog is a behavior that we should carry out regular, whether it is a puppy or an adult dog.It is very important to apply frequent hygiene of the ears to avoid the appearance of fungi. Next we will explain what products you need to carry it out and how It must be the method for everything to go perfectly. Keep reading this complete article by Animals and Pets Online and discover how to clean the ears of a dog step by step : Steps to follow: 1 The first step will be to gather all the materials that we may need to clean the dog's ears properly: sterile gauze swabs physiological serum Instead of physiological serum you can also choose to use hydrogen peroxide or specific preparations that we will find in any pet store.What is recommended is Apply sterile gauze as the cotton can fray inside the ear of the dog and rot.Finally, and for a much more thorough cleaning we may need swabs, yes, baby.Much safer. 2 It is important to keep in mind ...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog