As a seedling, the strangler fig and host tree have a relationship that is described as commensalism. Why is commensalism a good description for this relationship?

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Heather Hayden

Biology

14 May, 19:37

As a seedling, the strangler fig and host tree have a relationship that is described as commensalism. Why is commensalism a good description for this relationship?

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Donna Mack · Answer 1

It merely uses the host tree to get closer to the sunlight and rain, and finds nutrients in decaying leaves and soil caught in nooks of the host tree's branches. This is a case of commensalism: one organism benefits while the other is unaffected.