What is the difference between commensalism and mutualism?
Commensalism is a relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected. Mutualism, on the other hand, is a relationship between two organisms in which both organisms benefit from each other. In commensalism, only one organism benefits, while in mutualism, both organisms involved in the relationship benefit.
Commensalism and mutualism are two types of ecological relationships between organisms. Here are their differences:
1. Commensalism: In commensalism, one organism benefits while the other is unaffected. The organism benefiting is called the commensal, while the other organism is called the host. The host is neither harmed nor aided. Examples include barnacles attaching themselves to whales to gain access to food and a bird building its nest in the hollow of a tree.
2. Mutualism: Mutualism is a relationship where both organisms benefit from each other. Both species have a mutually beneficial association, where they rely on each other for survival, reproduction, or obtaining resources. Examples include pollinators (like bees) and flowers, where the pollinators gain food (nectar) while the flowers get pollinated.
To summarize, the main difference between commensalism and mutualism is that commensalism benefits only one organism while the other remains neutral, whereas mutualism benefits both organisms involved.