Is there a type of symbiosis where an organism is harmed and the other is neither harmed nor helped?
If not, do you think there's a term for this sort of relation between two organisms?
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Sign up to join this communityIs there a type of symbiosis where an organism is harmed and the other is neither harmed nor helped?
If not, do you think there's a term for this sort of relation between two organisms?
I see that there exists some confusion over the meaning of Symbiosis itself [in reference to the comments and answer(s)].
Your question/ query seeking information about "some type of Symbiosis" that harms one organism without affecting the other in any form is very much legitimate.
Amensalism (as responded by Sanjukta) is indeed the answer, but saying that "No. There seems to be no intimate association (symbiosis) that does not benefit any partner" is suggesting that Amensalism is not Symbiosis (which is not true).
Amensalism is one of the types of symbiotic associations only (Symbiosis is nothing but 'Living Together' of two / more organisms - which may or may not benefit/ harm either or both or none of the parties involved in the association).
Point to be taken is that, Symbiotic relation refers to the members of two different species (i.e., two populations) engaging in interaction and the interaction can be of any type (Amensalism is just another Symbiotic association).
Edit: If one looks into the Etymology of the word, Symbiosis, he/she should be able to decipher the meaning of Symbiosis:
One may support the argument using latest updation of Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Biology (Amensalism=Symbiosis) and the classical example of Walnut tree (which tends to kill or inhibit the growth of shrubs that grow around its roots) may be cited. Their growth is inhibited, but their niche still remains the same. More importantly, the Honeybee - wasp relationship (a long term one) is best fit for Symbiotic Ammensalism.
So, Mutualism, Commensalism, Amensalism, are all Symbiotic Relations.
References:
Miami College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biotechnology Lecture Notes
Is there a type of symbiosis where an organism is harmed and the other is neither harmed nor helped?
No. There seems to be no intimate association (symbiosis) that does not benefit any partner.
If not, do you think there's a term for this sort of relation between two organisms?
Yes, Amensalism is the biological interaction you are talking about in which one organism inflicts harm to another organism without any loss or benefit to itself.
A clear case of amensalism is where sheep or cattle trample grass. The presence of the grass causes negligible detrimental effects to the animal's hoof but the grass suffers from being crushed.
For more read wikiedia.