Amensalism
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Amensalism is a biological interaction between two species in which one impedes or restricts the success of the other without being affected positively or negatively by its presence[1]. It is a type of symbiosis. Usually this occurs when one organism exudes a chemical compound as part of its normal metabolism that is detrimental to another organism.
The bread mold Penicillium is a common example of this; penicillium secrete penicillin, a chemical that kills bacteria. A second example is the black walnut tree (Juglans nigra), which secrete juglone, a chemical that harms or kills some species of neighboring plants, from its roots. This interaction may still increase the fitness of the non-harmed organism though, by removing competition and allowing it access to greater scarce resources. In this sense the impeding organism can be said to be negatively affected by the other's very existence, making it a +/- interaction.
Antibiosis or allelopathy also explain similar interactions.
[edit] References
- ^ D. M. Richardson, N. Allsopp, C. M. D'antonio, S. J. Milton & M. Réymanek. Plant invasions - the role of mutualisms (2000). Biol. Rev. 75, 65-93.
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