Commensalism

Commensalism might imply the word community, and that is true, because commensalism features two creatures or species of organisms living in tandem. However, the particular nature of the benefits to each species distinguishes commensalism from other types of communities or living arrangements that organisms might have. Understanding commensalism and its place in the categories of symbiotic relationships is very important to our understanding of ecology.

Commensalism definition in biology

Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship seen in nature. While the word commensal might remind us of the word community, the actual etymology of the word commensal indicates a more direct meaning in French and Latin. Commensal comes from the joining of two words: com- which means together, and mensa- which means table. Commensal more literally translates to “eating at the same table”, a beautiful turn of phrase.

Symbiosis is a term encompassing the broad range of communal relationships that organisms and different species can have when living on, within, or near each other. If both species benefit, the symbiosis is termed mutualism. When one species benefits, but the other is harmed the symbiosis is termed parasitism. Commensalism is the third type of symbiotic relationship, and that is what we will examine further (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. This illustration shows different types of symbiotic relationships.

Features of commensalism in relationships

What are some features we see time and again in commensalism and commensal relationships? Just like in parasitism, the organism that benefits (known as the commensal) tends to be significantly smaller than its host (the host is the organism that does not change or receives only neutral changes due to the symbiotic relationship). This makes sense because a very large organism might inevitably bother or harm the host if it was living on or around it. A smaller commensal can be more easily ignored than a bigger one would be.

Commensalism can vary in its timing and intensity, like any other symbiotic relationship. Some commensals have very long-term or even lifelong relationships with their hosts, while others have short-lived, transient relationships. Some commensals may derive extreme benefits from their hosts, while others may have weak, minor benefits.

Commensalism – the debate: is it even real?

Believe it or not, there is still a debate as to whether true commensalism actually exists. Some scientists believe that every symbiotic relationship is either mutualistic or parasitic and, if we think we are seeing commensalism, that is only because we have yet to discover how the host either benefits from or is harmed by the relationship.

This theory could be possible, especially when we take into account some of the weak, transient, or paltry examples of commensalism we have. Perhaps if we study all commensal relationships in depth, we will discover that they are indeed some other kind of symbiosis. However, for now, this theory is not commonly accepted. We believe commensalism exists, and there are several examples of commensalism that we have in nature.

Commensal organisms on a macro level

Commensalism is thought to have developed between larger species (not microbes) due to certain evolutionary changes and ecological realities. Larger species, such as humans, fed on things and created waste, and then other species may have learned to follow near to humans to consume their waste. This occurred without harming the humans.

In fact, one of the theories of how dogs were tamed and domesticated involves the principles of commensalism. As ancient dogs kept coming closer to humans to consume the leftovers of their meat, humans eventually developed bonds with first individual dogs and then whole communities of dogs. These dogs were naturally less aggressive than some other species of animals, so they took to these bonds with greater ease. Ultimately, social ties were established between dogs and humans, and this became one of the bedrocks of their ultimate domestication.

Commensal gut bacteria – the debate

These processes include making Vitamin K, which is produced by certain intestinal bacteria, and increasing metabolic rate which helps reduce the likelihood for obesity and dyslipidemia.

Another very important function of our gut microbiome is to fend off other bacteria, especially pathogenic bacteria, that would like to latch on and cause gastrointestinal infections, with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If our natural gut bacteria are present, colonizing our intestines, there is not as much room or opportunity for pathogenic bacteria to take hold.

Yet with all these important activities that our gut bacteria help us to regulate and maintain, there remains a debate as to the actual classification of the gut microbiome. Is our relationship with our gut bacteria an example of commensalism, or is it an example of mutualism?

Obviously, we as humans benefit tremendously from our gut microbiome, but do the bacteria benefit from this symbiosis as well? Or are they merely neutral, neither harmed nor helped by it? So far, most scientists have not outlined clear, specific benefits to bacteria that arise from them dwelling in our intestines, so our gut microbiome is more often considered an example of commensalism than mutualism. Still, some scientists think that microbes benefit from our moist, warm environment and the food products that we consume and digest. So the debate rages on.

Commensalism examples in biology

Let's look at some examples of commensalism, irrespective of the scale or size of the organisms and the length of time that the relationship occurs for.

• Phoresy- with millipedes and birds

  • Phoresy is when an organism attaches to or stays on another organism for transport.

  • Commensal: millipede

  • Host: bird

  • Because birds are not bothered or harmed by the millipedes that use them as locomotive vehicles to go from place to place, this is an example of commensalism.

• Inquilinism- with pitcher plants and mosquitoes

  • Inquilinism is when an organism houses itself permanently within another organism.

  • Commensal: the pitcher-plant mosquito.

  • Host: pitcher plant

  • The mosquito uses the beautiful yet carnivorous pitcher plant as a home and from time to time, can also dine on the prey that the pitcher plant traps. The pitcher plant is not bothered by this. Both species have co-evolved to suit each other.

• Metabiosis- with maggots and decomposing animals

  • Metabiosis is when one organism is dependent on the activity and/or presence of a different organism to create the environment that is required or most suitable for it to live in.

  • Commensal: Maggots

  • Host: dead, decaying animals

  • Maggot larvae need to live and grow on decomposing animals so that they can have the nutrients they need and reach proper maturity. The dead animal is already dead and thus isn't helped or harmed by the presence of the maggots, as gross as they are to us!

• Golden jackals and tigers

  • Commensal: golden jackal

  • Host: tiger

  • Golden jackals, at a certain stage of maturity, may be expelled from their pack and find themselves alone. These jackals may then act as scavengers, trailing behind tigers and eating the remains of their kills. Because the jackals usually remain a safe distance behind and wait for the tigers to finish eating, they are not harming or affecting the tiger in any way.

• Cattle egrets and cows

  • Commensal: cattle egret

  • Host: cow

  • Cows graze for long periods of time, stirring up creatures like insects that lie underneath the foliage. Cattle egrets perch on the backs of grazing cows and can snap up juicy insects and other things that the cows unearth (Fig. 2). Egrets are relatively light and don't compete for the same food as the cattle, so the cows are neither harmed nor better off due to their presence.

Figure 2. This illustration shows some examples of commensalism.