noun
- a relationship between two organisms in which one benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed
Usage: biology
Examples
- The relationship between barnacles and whales is an example of commensalism.
- In commensalism, one species gains an advantage without affecting the other.
- Students studied various forms of commensalism in their ecology class.
- The bird’s nest in the tree demonstrates commensalism – the bird benefits from shelter while the tree is unaffected.
- Commensalism differs from mutualism because only one organism benefits.
- Many marine organisms exhibit commensalism with larger host species.