Content
Often, the relationships that are established between animals in nature are classified according to the convenience that represents each of those who perform it: while there are some relationships that are mutually dependent and then both species find it useful, others like predation they have a predator and a prey, where only the former benefits.
Relationships in which at least one of the species is harmed are called negative interactions: it is the instinct of the species and the dynamics of evolution itself that determines that these relationships are produced, and not a tangible will because if it were so, no species would cause damage.
It is called amensalism to those relationships between species in which one of the two is damaged by the relationship and the other does not experience any alteration, that is to say, it is neutral.
How is it done?
Usually, amensalism occurs in the generation of toxic substances, or in the creation of intolerable conditions for other populations, by the microorganisms.
When an organism establishes itself in a space, often do what is necessary to prevent other populations from surviving in it, which cannot be interpreted as a positive action for itself: rather it is thought of as neutral for itself, but harmful for the rest of the species.
Difference between amensalism and competition
Amensalism is frequently confused with another relationship that can occur between species, which is that of competition: that is the one that contains a fight between two organisms to obtain the same resources, which they use to satisfy their needs.
Whereas competition is a 'zero-sum' game whereby the convenience of one necessarily implies the detriment of the other, in amensalism, the person who performs the delimiting action does not get a real advantage.
Examples of amensalism
- When some animals trample the grasses, without taking advantage of them for a particular use.
- The penicium fungus, which secretes penicillin preventing the growth of bacteria; and not only bacteria that can affect it.
- Some planktonic algae release a toxic substance, which is concentrated in the 'red spots' of the ocean, causing the death of various species of marine animals.
- A wasp that lays its eggs in aphids, being that when the larvae are born they feed on them.
- A rodent that feeds on the fruit of the carob tree, but that does not damage or modify the seeds during its digestion: as they come out the same, the relationship causes them to disperse.
- Larger trees that prevent sunlight from reaching the grasses that are at ground level.
- Pine leaves that fall to the ground release a chemical that reduces the incidence of seed germination instead.
- Eucalyptus, which secretes a substance that prevents and hinders the development of other plants.
It can serve you:
- Examples of commensalism
- Examples of mutualism
- Examples of predator and prey
