in a relationship that is an example of commensalism, would the species that is neither helped nor harmed evolve in response to the other species?
In a relationship of commensalism, one species benefits while the other remains unaffected. It is important to note that evolution occurs over multiple generations, and it is driven by changes in the genetic composition of populations.
In commensalistic relationships, the species that benefits may evolve and adapt over time in response to environmental factors. However, since the other species does not experience any direct benefits or harms, there may be no selective pressures acting on them. Therefore, they may not necessarily evolve in direct response to the other species in the commensal relationship.
However, it is worth mentioning that evolutionary processes are complex and interconnected, and changes in one species can indirectly impact others. For instance, if the benefiting species in the commensal relationship undergoes significant evolutionary changes, it might indirectly affect the other species through ecological shifts or changes in resource availability. These indirect effects could potentially influence the evolution of the species neither helped nor harmed in the relationship.