A few words about Commensalism
Commensalism does not involve physiologic interaction or dependency between the two partners, the host and the commensal. Literally, the term means "earing at the same table." In other words, commensalism is a type of symbiosis in which spatial proximity allows the commensal to feed on substances captured or ingested by the host. The two partners can survive independently. Although at times certain nonpathogenic organisms (e.g., protozoa) are referred to as commensals, this interpretation is incorrect because they arc physiologically dependent on the host and are, therefore, parasites. An example of commensalism is the association of hermit crabs and the sea anemones they carry on their borrowed shells.
Related posts:
- Phoresy, Parasitoid definitions
- What is Host-Parasite relationship?
- Symbiotic relationship of protozoans
- What is Ectoparasite?
- What is Wandering or aberrant parasite?
