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commensalism
commensalism Situation in nature in which two species live in close association but only one partner benefits. One of the species (the commensal) may gain from increased food supply, or by procuring shelter, support or means of locomotion, but the other (the host) neither gains nor loses from the relationship. For example, silverfish clean the nests of army ants by scavenging on refuse without harming the ants. Commensalism is a type of symbiosis. In the other type, mutualism, both organisms gain from the relationship.
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"commensalism." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "commensalism." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-commensalism.html "commensalism." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-commensalism.html |
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commensalism
commensalism , relationship between members of two different species of organisms in which one individual is usually only slightly benefited, while the other member is not affected at all by the relationship. For example, some flatworms live attached to the gills of the horseshoe crab, obtaining bits of food from the crab's meals; the crab is apparently unaffected. In many cases commensalism cannot be distinguished from parasitism (see parasite ). See also competition ; symbiosis . |
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"commensalism." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "commensalism." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-commensa.html "commensalism." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-commensa.html |
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commensalism
commensalism The interaction between species populations in which one species, the commensal, benefits from another, sometimes called the host, but this other is not affected. For example, a hydroid (Hydractinia echinata) living on a whelk shell occupied by a hermit crab is carried by the crab to sites where it can feed, but it does not deprive the crab because the two species have different food requirements. Compare mutualism and parasitism.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "commensalism." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "commensalism." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-commensalism.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "commensalism." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-commensalism.html |
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commensalism
commensalism An interaction between species populations in which one species (the commensal) benefits from another (sometimes called the host) that is not affected itself. For example, a hydroid (Hydractinia echinata) living on a whelk shell occupied by a hermit crab is carried by the crab to sites where it can feed but it does not deprive the crab because the two species have different food requirements. Compare MUTUALISM; PARASITISM.
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "commensalism." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "commensalism." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-commensalism.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "commensalism." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-commensalism.html |
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commensalism
commensalism An interaction between two animal or plant species that habitually live together in which one species (the commensal) benefits from the association while the other is not significantly affected. For example, the burrows of many marine worms contain commensals that take advantage of the shelter provided but do not affect the worm.
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"commensalism." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "commensalism." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-commensalism.html "commensalism." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-commensalism.html |
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commensalism
com·men·sal·ism / kəˈmensəˌlizəm/ • n. Biol. an association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm. |
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"commensalism." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "commensalism." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-commensalism.html "commensalism." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-commensalism.html |
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commensalism
commensalism The interaction between species populations in which one species, the commensal, benefits from another, sometimes called the host, but this other is not affected. Compare MUTUALISM and PARASITISM.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "commensalism." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "commensalism." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-commensalism.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "commensalism." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-commensalism.html |
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