Final answer:
Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is unaffected. Examples include birds nesting in trees and cattle egrets feeding near livestock. It contrasts with the competitive exclusion principle, where competition for resources leads to the exclusion of one species in the same niche.
Step-by-step explanation:
Commensalism in Species Interactions
Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship between two species where one species receives a benefit from the interaction while the other species is neither helped nor harmed. A classic example of commensalism can be observed with birds nesting in trees; the trees are not damaged by the nest, while birds gain protection for their offspring. This relationship demonstrates how one species can utilize another for shelter without causing any detriment. On the contrary,competitive exclusion principle the dictates that no two species can coexist in the same niche when competing for identical resources at the same time and place. Unlike commensalism, this principle highlights the reality of resource competition leading to the exclusion of one species.
There are various instances of commensalism, including the relationship between cattle egrets and livestock, where the egrets feed on insects stirred up by the animals without affecting the livestock. Similarly, mites riding on larger insects for transport exemplify commensal interactions as the host insects are not impacted by carrying the mites.