What are some examples of commensalism ?

Hello Aspirant!

You may know that Commensalism (+0) is a type of ecological Host-Parasite interaction (between two organisms) where the parasite species derives nutrition, shelter, protection, locomotion etc. from the host species. And here, the parasite species is benefitted while the host species is neither benefitted nor harmed.

Some common examples of Commensalism are :-
1. Goby fishes live on the body surface of other marine animals. They change colour to blend in with the host, thus gaining protection against predators.
2. Burdock plants produce spiny seeds that cling to the fur of animals or human clothings. The plant relies on this method for dispersion of seeds during its reproductive season, while the animals are unaffected.
3.The small suckerfish (or Remora) is a member of the ray-finned fishes. The remora forms a commensal association with large marine organisms, like turtles, whales and sharks. Its specially-designed suckers attach to the fins of the host organism and thus it attains benefit of transportation and protection from predators. It also utilizes the leftover of sharks for feeding, without causing any harm to the host.
4.Barnacles are the organisms which are unable to move on their own as they lack well developed locomotory organs . So, during the larval stage, they stick to other organisms such as whales or they attach themselves to shells, ships, and rocks. They grow and develop on these surfaces without causing any negative affect to the host. Barnacles feed on plankton and other food materials during the movement of whales.They do not feed on blood or flesh. Therefore, they cause no harm to the whale. This way, they get benefit in transportation (or locomotion) and nutrition.
5. The emperor shrimp attaches itself to sea cucumbers where they get benefit in transportation and protection from predators without energy expenditure . The shrimp get off the host cucumber for feeding and then attaches to another host when it wants to move to a different place. As the emperor shrimp is small and light, it does not cause any harm to the sea cucumber.
6. Monarch butterflies derive certain toxins during their larval stage from milkweed hosts, which make them distasteful to predatory birds.These toxins are not poisonous to the butterfly larvae but its consumption is harmful for the vertebrates. Milkweeds are not carnivorous plants. They do not affect the growth and development of the butterfly larvae. So, in this way, the butterflies acquire protection against its predators without harming its host milkweed species.
7. Tree frogs get protection against its predators by cryptically hiding on the surface of the bark of trees. Due to similarity in colour of the frogs and tree trunk, its predator cannot differentiate and navigate the frog.

I hope you find this answer helpful.

Dear candidate

The Commensalism is a latin word whose meaning is "to eat at some table" an interconnection or dependency between organisms here one organism depends on others for food and in this process one organism is benefited by depending on the other and the other organism is affected

Examples

1. Remora Fish
2. Nurse Plants
3. Tree frogs
4. Goby fish
5. The Burdock plant
6. Golden Jackals
7. Cattle egrets

Hope this Information is Helpful.