What is commensalism?
Q: What is commensalism?
A: Commensalism is a type of relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits and the other is not affected.
Q: Is it easy to show that the passive organism is not harmed in commensalism?
A: No, it is difficult to show that the passive organism is not harmed in commensalism.
Q: Can birds living in holes in trees damage the tree?
A: It is uncertain whether birds living in holes in trees damage the tree.
Q: Do mites hitching a ride on insects affect the fitness of the insect?
A: It is uncertain whether mites hitching a ride on insects affect the fitness of the insect.
Q: What kind of plants grow on tropical trees?
A: Orchids, mosses, and lichens grow on tropical trees.
Q: Do epiphytes like orchids, mosses, and lichens affect their host plant?
A: It is assumed that epiphytes like orchids, mosses, and lichens do not affect their host plant.
Q: Who introduced the term commensalism into evolutionary biology and ecology in the 1870s?
A: Pierre-Joseph van Beneden (1809-1894) introduced the term commensalism into evolutionary biology and ecology in the 1870s.
