There are a total of three types of biotic symbioses: Mutualism, Parasitism, and Commensalism. Mutualism is the interaction between two or more organisms where both organisms can benefit from the interaction.
An example of mutualism is a Clownfish and a Sea Anemone. The clownfish benefits the sea anemone by consuming parasites that may be on it and providing nutrients from its excrements. This close relationship between these two organisms is more complicated than you would first imagine. Originally a mutualistic symbiotic relationship comes to mind as the Oxpecker is eating external parasites off the coat of the mammal it is riding on.
So the bird benefits in the form of a meal and the mammal benefits by having parasites removed. The Oxpecker among a herd of animals also acts as a look-out. It lets off a shrill warning call if it detects danger which positively benefits the mammal it is on but large predators are no threat to the bird itself, so this would be a communalistic interaction.
The relationship gets even more complex with recent studies revealing Oxpeckers can also have a parasitic relationship with the mammal it is on. The pilot fishes riding attached to a shark for obtaining food is shown in figure Mutualism: Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship among two or more different species where both species benefit.
Commensalism: Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where only one species benefits and the other is unaffected. Mutualism: Both species benefit in mutualism. Commensalism: Only one species is benefitted in commensalism.
Mutualism: Relationship between bees and flowers, digestive bacteria and humans, oxpeckers and zebras, etc. Commensalism: Hermit crabs using dead gastropods for their protection, millipedes traveling on birds, etc. Mutualism and commensalism are two categories of symbiotic relationships among two or more different species. Both types of symbiotic relationships are based on either obtaining food, locomotion, shelter, defense, or support. In mutualism, both species benefit.
In commensalism, only one species benefits while the other is unaffected. This is the main difference between mutualism and commensalism. On the other hand, commensalism represents that type of symbiotic relationship where only one organism get benefits while the other does not benefit and not harmed from the relationship. In case of mutualism, both the organisms are interdependent whereas in case of commensalism both the organisms are not dependent to each other.
Mutualism is a short term relationship on the other hand commensalism is a type of long term relationship. Mutualism contains a mutually beneficial relationship that involves two or many species that are different.
In other words, the species which are involved in this relationship have different needs for their survival. There are different kinds of mutualistic relationships that are based on transport, defense, nutrition, and shelter.
The significant aspect of the mutualistic relationships is that they are obligatory. This shows that each or species are dependent on each other.
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