what's an example of commensalism?

Answer 1

Sharks and Remora fish. Remora fish remain attached to the underside of shark. When shark predates and eats its prey, small pieces fall from its mouth. The remora fish quickly pick up these pieces as its food. So in this type of relationship, the remora fish are benefitted and the shark remains unaffected. This type of relationship is called commensalism.

Answer 2

The answer implying that the bacteria within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract consume the food while also producing vitamins we need, is incorrect in this context, as this would be symbiosis. Although it is correct that a profound amount of bacteria can be found here as commensals, in that they consume the nutrients found in the GI tract and do not directly benefit us nor harm us. This is true of your whole body with the skin and the GI tract the most notable examples, in fact there are more bacterial cells on and within your body than there are your own cells. Staphylococcus aureus (that which is known as MRSA to most) is a commensal of the nasal cavity, it resides here peacefully, benefiting from the environment our body provides while it does not harm nor benefit us directly. It is only when this organsim gets where it shouldn't, i.e. into the body, where it can cause disease.

Answer 3

The commensal bacteria living in the human intestine consume some of the human's food but make several vitamins (e.g. Vitamin K and biotin) for the human's benefit.

Answer 4

Phoresy: One animal attaching to another animal for transportation only. This concerns mainly arthropods, examples of which are mites on insects (such as beetles, flies, or bees), pseudoscorpions on mammals[1] and millipedes on birds[2]. Phoresy can be either obligate or facultative (induced by environmental conditions).

source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commensalism

Answer 5

http://www.nearctica.com/ecology/pops/commens.htm