Mya De Silva, ANTON GARCIA, LENICIA PAUL, LEILANI OLLIVIERRE

9/27/23
COMMENSALISM

COMMENSALISM
CONTENTS

WHAT IS COMMENSALISM?............................................................................................................................1
Phoresy..........................................................................................................................................................1
Inquilinism....................................................................................................................................................1
Metabiosis.....................................................................................................................................................1
Facilitation....................................................................................................................................................1
Necromeny...................................................................................................................................................1
EXAMPLES.....................................................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................................1

WHAT IS COMMENSALISM?

Commensalism is a long-term biological interaction

(symbiosis) in members of one species gain benefits
while those of the other species neither benefit nor are
harmed. This is in contrast with Mutalism, in which both
organisms benefit from each other; amensalism, where
one is harmed while the other is unaffected; and
parasitism, where one is harmed and the other
benefits.

The comesnal (the species that benefits from the

associtation) may obtain nutrients, shelter, support, or
locomotion from the host species, which is substantially
unaffected. The commensal relation is often between a
larger host and a smaller commensal; the host
oranganism is unaffected, whereas the commensal

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species may show great structural adaptation

consistent with its habits.
TYPES OF COMMENSALISM

PHORESY
Phoresy is one animal attached to another exclusively
for transport, mainly arthropods, examples of which
are mites on insects (such
as beetles, flies or bees), pseudoscorpions on mammals
or beetles, and millipedes on birds. Phoresy can be
either obligate or facultative (induced by environmental
conditions).
INQUILINISM

Inquilinism: Tillandsia
bourgaei growing on an oak tree in Mexico
Inquilinism is the use of a second organism for
permanent housing. Examples
are epiphytic plants (such as many orchids) that grow
on trees, or birds that live in holes in trees.

METABIOSIS
Metabiosis is a more indirect dependency, in which one
organism creates or prepares a suitable environment
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for a second. Examples include maggots, which develop

on and infest corpses, and hermit crabs, which
use gastropod shells to protect their bodies.
Hermir crap using a Gastropod Shell to protect it’s

body.
FACILITATION
Facilitation or probiosis describes species
interactions that benefit at least one of the participants
and cause harm to neither.
Bird Using Tree for Nest

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NECROMENY
Necromeny is one animal associating with another until
the latter dies, then the former feeds on the corpse of
the latter. Examples include some nematodes and
some mites.

EXAMPLES
1. Orchids Growing On Tree Branches: Orchids are epiphytic plants that grow on
trunks and branches of other trees. They rely on the host plant for sunlight and
nutrients that flow on branches. In return, the host tree gains no benefits from the
orchids.

2. Golden Jackals And Apex Predators: Golden jackals follow apex predators like
tigers to feed on leftover prey. They stay back in the shadows so as not to disturb
the hunter-in-action and move in once the predator has had its fill.

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3. Sharks and Remora Fish (Sucker Fish): Remora fish attach themselves to sharks
and other fishes using a flat oval sucking disk structure on top of their
heads. They benefit from the transportation and feeding opportunities provided
by the host fish.

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