commensals
Organisms sharing meals
Commensals are organisms that live in close association with another species, benefiting from the relationship while neither helping nor harming their host.
The term comes from a Latin word meaning sharing a table, which captures the essence: one dines while the other is unaffected.
Barnacles on whales and birds nesting in trees are classic examples.
In biology, commensalism is distinguished from parasitism, where the host is harmed, and mutualism, where both parties benefit.
Resident microscopic organisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
- microbiomeBody's microbial community
microbial · biofilm · intestinal · host · colonization · symbiont · microflora
Two-way biological benefit
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- interspeciesBetween different species
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
niche · host · coexistence · neutralism · trophic · facilitation
Fellow diners at one's seat
People sharing a dwelling
- roommatesPeople sharing a residence
- cohabitantsPeople sharing a residence
- lodgersPaying household residents
- boardersTenants given meals
flatmates · tenants · cohabitation · bunkmates · residents
microbiota
Resident microscopic organisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
microbiome · microbial · biofilm · intestinal · host · colonization · symbiont · microflora
mutualism
Two-way biological benefit
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- interspeciesBetween different species
ecosystem · niche · host · coexistence · neutralism · trophic · facilitation
tablemates
Fellow diners at one's seat
housemates
People sharing a dwelling
- roommatesPeople sharing a residence
- cohabitantsPeople sharing a residence
- lodgersPaying household residents
boarders · flatmates · tenants · cohabitation · bunkmates · residents
- Microbesbacteria, bacterium, virus, mold, prokaryote
- microbiomemicrobiome, microbiota, gut flora, intestinal flora, beneficial bacteria
- endosymbiontsmitochondria, chloroplasts, chloroplast, plastids, plastid