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

All about the zeal in cats

Do you think your cat is in heat period ? It is important that you know how to recognize when the animal is in this moment so that you can understand its attitude and take care of it with the attention it requires.Keep in mind that a cat's zeal is different from that of a cat , that is why, below we differentiate the different characteristics according to the gender so that you get a better understanding with your pet. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we want you to learn everything about the zeal of cats : the characteristics, symptoms and care required. The zeal in female cats We will start talking about zeal in cats since it is the most complex.The first thing you should know is that the periods of heat occur at certain times of the year, times when the cat is predisposed to be fertilized by the male to procreate, but not all year they will allow the sexual encounter: only when they are with the zeal. A cat begins to have the first zeal towards at 6 or 9...

How much an anaconda can measure

Many people have a snake as a pet.If you like snakes, and Above all, if you like big snakes, the anaconda is an animal that interests you.This type of snake is considered the largest in the world, but be careful, not heavy, not long. If you It has stung curiosity, do not forget to read this new article of Animals and Pets Online, and we will reveal you until how much an anaconda can measure . Do not forget to comment and share your photographs so other users can see them too! Anaconda types Four types of anaconda are known : Green or common anaconda Yellow anaconda Anaconda Beni or Barbour Anaconda de Deschauensee The green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) Of the four is the most common .It can be found in different countries of South America: Guyana Trinidad Island Venezuela Colombia Brazil Ecuador Peru Bolivia Northeast of Paraguay Its color is a dark green with black spots rounded along its entire body, also on the flanks The belly is lighter,...

Why was the dodo extinguished?

Surely you've ever heard of the dodo, that fat and silly bird that died in the hands of the conquerors.We have all heard that story but we know little about this animal that I inhabit for a long time in the Mauritius Islands long before the arrival of men. All the data we have about of the Dodo are ancient descriptions and some specimens in different museums of the world.There were two species, the common dodo and the white dodo , the latter inhabited Reunion Island. In this article of Animals and Pets Online you will know the main characteristics of this animal. Because they disappeared and when the last dodo was notified . Features The dodo was a non-flying bird endemic to the Mauritius islands in the Indian Ocean, they were only present in this region and their bodies had adapted to life on these islands. They had no natural predators so they lost the ability to fly.They adapted to terrestrial life which led to a series of changes in their anatomy.The wings were m...

The 15 best dog feeds on the market

What to consider when selecting the best dog food? When selecting the feed that we are going to provide to our dog, we must take into account, mainly, its age.This is because industrial balanced foods are classified according to the age of the animal , offering I think for junior dogs (puppies), I think for adult dogs and I think for senior (elderly) dogs.When a dog goes from junior to adult and then to senior ? I think for dogs junior , in general, is intended for puppies from 2 to 12-15 months, depending on their adult size. I think for adult dogs is for dogs that are 1 to 8 years old. I think for dogs senior is designed to meet the nutritional needs of dogs that exceed 8 years of age. In addition to the age of the animal, we will consider its adult size , since there are also small dog food s, medium, large and giant, adapted to the needs of each one. Once the range of feed for dogs that fits the age and size of our furry companion has been detected, how to ch...

Types of wasps

The wasps are insects belonging to the family Vespidae and belonging to one of the largest orders of insects, where there are also ants, bumblebees and bees, among others.They are eusocial animals, although there are also some species that prefer solitude. One of the most distinctive characteristics of the wasps is the "waist", the area that divides the thorax of the abdomen.They can also be distinguished by having a stinger which they can use several times and not only once as in the case of bees. The wasps make their nest of mud or vegetable fibers; same that are in the ground, in trees, as well as in ceilings and walls of human rooms; All this depending on the type of wasp we are talking about.In this article of Animals and Pets Online you will know the different types of wasps , we invite you to continue reading. Subfamilies of Vespidos To better understand everything related to the types of wasps, we must detail that there are a total of 6 subfamilies of vespi...

What is the canicross? How to practice it with your dog?

There are more and more people who practice canicross with their Dogs: they run with them tied at the waist.This sport can be done individually, although there are also clubs that prepare for different competitions at regional, national or international level. Developing daily activities with your dog is a excellent way to strengthen your link , for this reason, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we want to talk about canicross, a very complete impact sport for people who want to exercise with their pets. Next, we will explain what is canicross and how to practice it with your dog , a great way to create a proactive routine and to promote a healthy physical state for both: What is the canicross? Canicross is one of the most fashionable canine sports today.Actually, it is a modality of mushing , the traditional sled dog throw. It consists of running with a dog tied at the waist using a belt and a firing line that is fixed with a carabiner.The line of fire is conn...

The best hours to walk a dog

For starters it is important to note that dog walks should always be done at the same times, that is, you should follow a very regular schedule that allows them to anticipate that they will go out Although a priori does not seem relevant, the truth is that dogs are animals of customs, so being able to anticipate will help them to be more balanced . In addition to following a schedule marked, the frequency of the walks can vary from one dog to another: some breeds, such as the border collie, will need between two and four daily walks, but others such as the pug or, for example, a very old dog, will have enough with two It is not always easy to know how many times to take a dog for a walk, but some factors such as age or energy level that we observe can help us. Now that you know these Previous details, we will explain what is the best time to walk a dog and what is more convenient to do in each of the schedules: 1.Tomorrow During the morning the dog should be able to enjoy...

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...

Belier rabbit care

When we refer to the belier rabbit we can see that it is a small rabbit, of long and fallen ears, a furry and friendly animal.But when we decide to adopt one we must pay attention to their particular needs . This rabbit is around 2.5 kilograms and It is a breed of delicate and calm rabbit but still has needs to exercise and socialize with people or other rabbits.To obtain information on the best care of your belier rabbit follow the advice of Animals and Pets Online although of course, who knows Your rabbit is better than anyone, it's you. Keep reading this article from Animals and Pets Online to know everything about Belier rabbit care and remember that all of this should be contrasted with what you observe in your particular rabbit, let's go there! A space for the Belier rabbit To start, if you have decided to adopt a belier rabbit, it is very important that you acquire a cage wide enough so that the rabbit can move freely and without distressing. Although it ...

Feline Calicivirus - Symptoms and Treatment

In Animals and Pets Online we want the best for your pet, That is why we try to cover all the diseases, ailments and behaviors that may be presented to your furry friend. On this occasion, we will talk about the feline calicivirus, symptoms and treatment , because this disease is very common among cats and can be dangerous for your cat if it is not detected in time. Always remember not to self-medicate your pet, go to the consultation with your veterinarian before any unusual symptoms or behavior, and give your little friend all the love, care and food he needs to be a strong, healthy and happy animal. What is feline calicivirus? It is a highly infectious disease that usually affects large colonies of felines, due to the ease with which the virus is transmitted.However, it can also appear among home cats. Calicivirus (FCV) is a type of feline flu .It manifests itself as an acute respiratory disease that affects the feline's upper pathways, causing sinusitis and rhin...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog