The Importance of Commensalism
Ever wonderedwhy orchids growing on branches are climbing or moving? Just like birds, plants use their strong branches to be able to reach high areas or find food. Most of the time, orchids grow on branches because they’re actually very pretty or beautiful plants. We just tend to ignore them when we walk by.
Why orchids growing on branches or moving is considered commensalistic? There are two types of organisms. One is harmless, like us, and another isharmful, like orchids. Commensalism refers to the act of helping others, which includes getting a benefit from another organism without harming it. So this mutual interaction is classed ascommensalistic.
One case in point is that of the arctic fox. The arctic foxes’ main source of food is the caribou. The fox takes caribou meat to build strong fur for winter, which is why the arctic foxes live on the forest floor. As caribou are not social animals, the arctic foxes get along with each other quite well. However, the fox will still kill and eat other caribou that come into its range.
Birds such as the song bird and the oriole are also very social creatures and belong to the Order Orthoptera, the same as orchids growing on branches. Birds such as these move freely all over the world, but in the winter, when they’re not able to fly or live in the trees for long, they seek out plants to supply them with food. They eat all the flowering plants they can find, and even fruits.
Whales are another example of plant-eating animals. The largest whale, the blue whale, can be seen around the North Atlantic Ocean feeding its hungry belly on small fish, kelp, and other forms of food. In order to survive, whales need lots of space to swim around, and that’s why they don’t prefer trees. The smaller gray whales and the pilot whales are a bit more choosy, but they too eat plants. In fact, pilot whales have been observed eating trees, even ones that aren’t in their natural feeding area.
Orchids are not the only organisms to display signs of commensals feeding on plants. Sharks are some of the biggest carnivores in the world, preying on smaller prey like fish, crabs, and snails. These animals also consume plants, although they usually grab live prey, such as fish or crabs. A lot of the shark’s diet is made up of the flesh of its prey, including its brain. And like orchids, sharks usually eat just a single type of plant at a time.
Some orchids growing on branches have a symbiotic relationship with certain fish, worms, crustaceans, or other animals. These plants allow the predatory animals to feed from them without harming them. This is how orchids are able to survive when surrounded by predators. When orchids grow on other types of plants, however, they are being harmed, sometimes fatally.
There are many theories about why orchids are harmed when they grow nearby other organisms. One has to consider whether the nearby organisms have a symbiotic relationship with them or if they harm them out of curiosity. Another cause is that plant-eating organisms can cause pollution. Orchids themselves may not be polluting, but the gases they release are not good for the ecosystem. Finally, some theories hold that orchids are being harmed due to the size difference between the orchid and its nearby host. The orchid may have become too big to sustain the same sort of environment it once enjoyed.
One example of commensalism is where two orchids are growing next to each other and one of them is manipulating the other’s growth. In this case, both organisms are in a mutual relationship. The one using the other to obtain food will harm it, but so will the one receiving the food. However, there is another type of commensalism where the organisms are not in a mutual relationship. In this case, one orchid can manipulate the growth of another orchid. The effect is usually just a tiny change, such as one orchid emerging at the top of a flower and becoming a different color.
Commensalism is not limited to orchids. Many other organisms can develop symbiotic relationships with other organisms. Most common examples are bacteria and fungi. Many marine organisms, including some birds, have symbiotic relationships with sea anemones. Commensals, like orchids, tend to occur among organisms that share similar lifestyles, for example those that are closely related.
The exact reasons why orchids develop symbiotic relationships with others are not well known. It is believed that the plants use the roots of the other organisms to help them obtain food. They also use the other organisms to stay alive. Whatever the cause, commensalism is a very important part of orchid life. If you are growing orchids, be sure to learn about commensalism so you can be sure your orchids get the best growing conditions possible!