1) what is the difference between mutualism commensalism and parasitism

Bacteria in the digestive tract of humans and other animals help the digestion of food while human provides shelter for that bacteria. The nitrogen-fixing bacteria provide nutrients to plants while obtaining a shelter from the roots of the plants.

The ants protect acacia plants from browsing animals while the ants obtain food and shelter from the plant. Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in different species where only one partner benefits and the other is unaffected.

The unaffected partner in a commensalistic relationship is referred to as the host organism. The commensalistic relationships are based on obtaining nutrients, locomotion, shelter, and support from the host.

Figure Pilot fishes with a shark. Four types of commensalism are found; inquilinism, metabiosis, phoresy, and microbiota. In inquilinsm , one organism obtains permanent shelter from the host organism without harming the host.

The epiphytic plants growing on trees are an example for inquilinsm. In metabiosis , one organism forms a habitat on the host organism. Hermit crabs using dead gastropods for their protection is an example for metabiosis. In phoresy , one organism attaches with the host organism for transport.

Millipedes traveling on birds is an example for phoresy. In microbiota , one organism forms communities within the host organism. The bacterial flora found on the human skin is an example for microbiota. The symbiotic processes are more essential for the earth to function. The forests, the trees and the animals evolve only through symbiosis.

Mutualism tends to make whole new species while Commensalism does not help in any such evolution. Commensalism is more of a shelter-based and defence based interaction.

The size of the organisms involved in Mutualism is ideally not of any concern while in Commensalism, the larger one becomes the host. It is strange to notice that, such unnoticed ecological processes in the world, help humans thrive from it.

The ecological cycle is never-ending and it keeps happening. Skip to content Symbiosis is the most crucial biological process required in the ecosystem. What is Mutualism? What is Commensalism? Main Differences Between Mutualism and Commensalism The main difference between Mutualism and Commensalism is the process of interaction. The Mutualism is a symbiotic process where both the symbionts are benefitted while commensalism is an interactive process where one organism is completely benefitted while the other is not affected at all.

Mutualism establishes benefits for all the organisms involved, while commensalism does not exhibit any such characteristics. It is only one organism that is benefitted. Nutritional Benefits are gained in the Mutualism process while Commensalism is more for a shelter and transport based interaction. This in and of itself is an example of commensalism since only the remora really benefits, but this relationship can change to mutualism when the remora feed on the parasites on the backs of these big fish.

This leads us to our last type of relationship, which is parasitism. Parasitism is a type of relationship where one organism benefits and the other organism is harmed in some way. Your mind might jump to what we more commonly think of as a parasite like tapeworms or fleas. These are great examples because in both cases, the parasite benefits while the other organism is harmed.

As humans, we can get tapeworms from the food and water we consume if it is not treated or prepared properly. Once the tapeworm is inside of the digestive tract, it eats a lot of your food for you. So symptoms can range from increased appetite to nausea, but if the tapeworm spreads to other organs it can be life-threatening. Cowbirds are a species of birds that instead of raising their own young, take advantage of another bird species, since birds cannot easily distinguish between their young.

However, cowbirds are much larger than most birds so they will demand more of the food and nest space. So, to review, mutualism is where both organisms benefit, commensalism is where one benefits and the other is unaffected, and parasitism is where one benefits and the other is harmed. Show Answer. Crows and other birds will get a free meal by eating insects and fleas off of the backs of cattle and cattle will get a free cleaning.