nonparasitic
Not feeding off others
Not parasitic—not living on or in another organism at that organism's expense.
Used in biology to distinguish organisms that obtain nutrients independently: nonparasitic fungi break down dead plant matter rather than attacking living hosts.
Extended to relationships or arrangements that aren't exploitative: a nonparasitic business partnership.
Self-directed and free
- self-sustainingAble to continue independently
- independentFree from external control
- self-supportingAble to maintain oneself
- free-livingSelf-sustaining in nature
unaided · self-contained · nondependent · standalone · resourceful · unattached · solitary · discrete
Interspecies biological interdependence
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- mutualismTwo-way biological benefit
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- lichenSymbiotic rock dweller
nitrogen fixation · pollination · cleaner fish · coral reef · symbiont · reciprocity · mutual benefit · biofilm
Causing no injury
- benignNot harmful or threatening
- healthfulPromoting physical wellbeing
- wholesomeConducive to well-being
- constructivePromoting positive development
salubrious · supportive · restorative · innocuous · advantageous · cooperative · productive
Organism breaking down corpses
- detritivoreEats dead organic material
- scavengerSeeker of refuse
- soil bacteriaMicroorganisms inhabiting dirt
- free-swimmingMobile in water independently
Light-to-sugar conversion in plants
- chlorophyllLight-harvesting plant pigment
- chloroplastsPhotosynthesis-performing cell structures
- green plantsPhotosynthetic living organisms
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
cyanobacteria · phytoplankton · diatoms · sunlight · biomass · flora · stomata · leaves
autonomous
Self-directed and free
- self-sustainingAble to continue independently
- independentFree from external control
- self-supportingAble to maintain oneself
free-living · unaided · self-contained · nondependent · standalone · resourceful · unattached · solitary · discrete · separate
symbiosis
Interspecies biological interdependence
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- mutualismTwo-way biological benefit
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
lichen · nitrogen fixation · pollination · cleaner fish · coral reef · symbiont · reciprocity · mutual benefit · biofilm · interdependence
harmless
Causing no injury
- benignNot harmful or threatening
- healthfulPromoting physical wellbeing
- wholesomeConducive to well-being
constructive · salubrious · supportive · restorative · innocuous · advantageous · cooperative · productive
decomposer
Organism breaking down corpses
- detritivoreEats dead organic material
- scavengerSeeker of refuse
- soil bacteriaMicroorganisms inhabiting dirt
photosynthesis
Light-to-sugar conversion in plants
- chlorophyllLight-harvesting plant pigment
- chloroplastsPhotosynthesis-performing cell structures
- green plantsPhotosynthetic living organisms
algae · cyanobacteria · phytoplankton · diatoms · sunlight · biomass · flora · stomata · leaves · botany
nonparasiticparasitic
Exploiting a host organism
parasitical · obligate parasite · parasitism · dependent · blood-sucking
nonparasiticparasitic
Exploiting a host organism
dependent · exploitative · freeloading · sponging · bloodsucking
parasite, parasitic, parasitism, parasitize, parasitology, antiparasitic, parasiticide, antiparasitics