Commensalisme - a relationship between 2 species where 1 party benefits (Comensal) whereas the other party (host) is neither harmed nor benefits, Eg; Epiphyte (plant), epizoic (animal).  |
Epiphytes, e.g.some tropical orchids use trees or branches of trees for support without harm or benefit to the tree. The epiphyte obtains more light and air in this manner for photosynthesis. |
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The remora, a sucker-fish, lives in close association with sharks or other larger fish. The dorsal fin of the sucker-fish is modified to form a sucker; it uses this to attach itself to the shark; The sucker-fish is small and does not injure (or benefit) the shark, but enjoys the shark's protection and lives on the scraps formed as the shark devours its prey |
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| Barnacle – sedentary crustaceans.They use long, feathering appendages to sweep the surrounding water for small, free-floating organisms. The critical resource for barnacles is a place to stay. Barnacles attach to rocks, ships, shells, whales, and just about anywhere else they can gain a foothold.. The barnacle gains a place to live and, presumably, the other is not harmed by the presence of the barnacles. Therefore the relationship is commensalism. |
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| Clownfishes live within the waving mass of tentacles of sea anemones; Because most fishes avoid the poisonous tentacles, the clownfishes are protected from predators. Perhaps this relationship borders on mutualism because the clownfishes actually may attract other fishes which the anemone can feed. The sea anemone's tentacles quickly paralyze and seize other fishes as prey. |
