Interspecific Relationships - Positive Interactions > Commensalism

An interspecific relationship in which one organism benefits, while the other is neither benefited nor harmed.

• Commensalism is an interaction where one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped - represented as (+, 0).
• An orchid growing on a mango branch gets sunlight and support, while the mango tree is completely unaffected.
• Barnacles on a whale's body get free transportation and access to food, while the whale gains nothing and loses nothing.
• Cattle egrets follow grazing cattle because the movement of cattle stirs up insects, making it easy for egrets to catch them - cattle remain unaffected.
• Clownfish hide among sea anemone's stinging tentacles to stay safe from predators, while the sea anemone gets no benefit in return.