What is tenancy and examples

Inhabilinism is a type of commensalism , that is, an interspecific relationship in which one species feeds on the leftover food of another, or else they use the second as a means of transport. Specifically, tenancy consists of a relationship between two individuals of different species in which one of them, the tenant, lives on or inside another organism, which acts as a host.

The key aspect of a tenant relationship is that the tenant is benefited by obtaining protection, a means of transport or even food from the host, without this entailing any benefit or detriment to the latter.

To expand this knowledge, you can consult these other AgroCorrn articles on interspecific relationships: types and examples and on What is commensalism: definition and examples .

Here are some examples of simple tenants to better understand this type of relationship between species.

Examples of tenancy in plants

The epiphytes are those who live on the surface of other plants, such as numerous species of orchids, ferns, lichens , mosses, cacti and so on . Epiphytic plants have the ability to hold on to vertical surfaces and capture water and much of its nutrients from sources other than the soil, such as air or even fog in the case of species that inhabit desert environments. Epiphytic plants can grow on branches, the trunk or other plant structures, without causing any damage to the host plant. Within the great variety of epiphytic species, many inhabit tropical and cloud forests.

Examples of marine tenancy

In the marine environment there are several examples of tenancy, such as the Balanus , which are crustaceans that live embedded in the skin of whales or in the shells of bivalves. In the first case, they are guaranteed a means of transport. Hermit crabs are sometimes included as an example of inquilinism, although the term “metabiota” is more accurate, which refers to those organisms that use parts of other dead organisms for their own benefit, as in the case of the use of shells. abandoned.

Examples of inquilinism in mammals

An example of tenancy within the group of mammals is that of squirrels , which live in the trunks of trees, where they find shelter and protection. Another case of tenancy in mammals could be the case of rodents such as mice that live in human houses, seeking shelter and protection while feeding on food scraps, all without causing direct harm to the people who live there. Or, in the first case, without the squirrel harming or giving a great benefit to the tree.

Examples of tenancy in insects

In the group of insects there are several examples of tenancy, especially in Diptera and Coleoptera, where there are several cases of organisms that exploit other social insects by living in their nests, feeding on their food or using them for protection purposes. There are several types of tenantism that are named after the social insect involved, as is the case of termitephilia, which, as its name suggests, is related to termites.

The colonies of social insects are sources of abundant food and that, in addition, have protection, so that the guests or tenants benefit from them, having developed various adaptations and strategies that allow them to overcome their barriers. This is the case of the staphylinid beetles Atemeles pubicollis bris , which inhabit ant coloniesand they adopt a “request for food” posture just like that of the ant larvae of the host species to receive food from the adult individuals. Another example of this relationship are some mosquitoes that inhabit and reproduce in the liquid contained in insectivorous plants, but with an adaptation to it that allows them to benefit from the protection they provide and the nutrients from the prey captured by said plants.

To conclude this explanation of what tenancy is and examples of it, we cite some examples of tenant animal and plant species :

• Common squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris ).
• Picamadero norteamericano (Dryocopus pileatus).
• Balanos or Balanus that live on the shell of bivalves or embedded in the skin of whales ( Balanus sp.).
• Epiphytic orchid species such as Bulbophyllum sandersonii.
• Lichens that live on tree trunks, such as Lobaria pulmonaria.
• Epiphytic cactus, such as Lepismium houlletianum.
• Bromelias (Tillandsia usneoides).
• Ferns such as asplenium ( Asplenium nidus ).
• Beetles of the species Atemeles pubicollis.
• The mosquito species Wyeomyia smithii, which completes its phase on the plant.
• The termite species Ahamitermes hillii , which inhabits the nests of other termite species of the genus Coptotermes.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is tenantism and examples , we recommend that you enter our Biology category .