We explain what amensalism is and some examples of this biological relationship. Also, what does commensalism consist of?
What is amensalism?
Amensalism is a biological relationship that It is established between two organisms in which one prevents the other from growing and develop (or even survive).
In amensalism, the individual that is harmed is usually the smallest or weakest, while the other organism does not even register its presence.
This relationship It is the result of the survival instinct that many species have and that occurs when a certain organism settles in a habitat. Once there, it strives to ensure that other individuals or species do not survive in the same space, which harms these other species.
Generally, this survival instinct is produced from the generation of toxic substances that come from microorganisms and that prevent other species from developing in nearby areas.
The term “amensalism” is not synonymous with competition. Although both are biological relationships that are recorded in nature, in competition two individuals face each other to obtain the same resource, which is essential for the subsistence of both. In this relationship, one of the individuals always benefits and the other is harmed. On the other hand, in amensalism the organism that carries out the delimiting action does not acquire any type of benefit.
See also: Predation
Examples of amensalism
- When the pine leaves fall to the ground, their toxicity prevents the seeds in the area from germinating.
- Fungi feed on organic matter, that is, they absorb nutrients from other populations which they harm, weaken or neutralize.
- An animal crushes the grasses that grow in its habitat with its paws and this prevents the rest of the species from being able to use them for food.
- The overpopulation of algae results in an increase in its toxicity and this harms the fish or plants that grow or develop around it.
- The substance produced by the eucalyptus complicates and even prevents other plants from developing near it.
- Like the eucalyptus, the black walnut generates a toxin known as juglone, which prevents other plants from developing, resulting in very reduced competition for survival.
- Redwood trees block the passage of sunlight with their branches, which means that plants do not grow near them.
- The urine and fecal matter of elephants contain substances that attract pathogens that contaminate the soil and water, and make the survival of other species difficult.
Commensalism and amensalism
Commensalism and amensalism are two types of interactions that occur between different organisms in the environment.
The difference between commensalism and amensalism has to do with the fact that, In the first case, one of the individuals benefits of the relationship while, in amensalism, neither member of the relationship obtains any advantage from that bond.
In commensalism, one of the individuals benefits while the other is neither benefited nor harmed: the link is neutral for them.
Some examples of commensalism can be when bees build their honeycomb in a tree when remoras ride on sharks to transport them or when birds build their nests in any tree.
References
- “What is amensalism and how does it happen in the environment?” in Self-Help Resources.
- “Commensalism” in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.