Biology

Our Current Understanding of Commensalism

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Commensalisms, interactions between two species in which one species benefits and the other experiences no net effect, are frequently mentioned in the ecological literature but are surprisingly little studied. Here we review and synthesize our limited understanding of commensalism. We then argue that commensalism is not a single type of interaction; rather, it is a suite of phenomena associated with distinct ecological processes and evolutionary consequences. For each form of commensalism we define, we present evidence for how, where, and why it occurs, including when it is evolutionarily persistent and when it is an occasional outcome of interactions that are usually mutualistic or antagonistic. We argue that commensalism should be of great interest in the study of species interactions due to its location at the center of the continuum between positive and negative outcomes. Finally, we offer a roadmap for future research.

Publication Title

Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics

Publication Date

11-2-2020

Volume

51

First Page

167

Last Page

189

ISSN

1543-592X

DOI

10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-011720-040844

Keywords

commensalism

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