What type of relationship is characterized by one organism benefitting while the other is neither helped nor harmed?

In ecology, the relationship characterized by one organism benefitting while the other is neither helped nor harmed is known as commensalism. In this type of interaction, one species gains some benefit such as shelter, food, or transportation, while the other species remains unaffected.

For example, epiphytic plants, which grow on the branches of trees, obtain access to sunlight and nutrients without impacting the host tree's health. The tree is not harmed by the presence of the epiphyte, nor does it gain any direct benefit from it.

Understanding this concept is essential in recognizing the various relationships organisms can have in an ecosystem, as it helps illustrate the complexity of interactions among species. Commensalism is distinct from parasitism, where one organism benefits at the expense of another, and mutualism where both organisms benefit. The idea of competition also involves entities vying for the same resource, which is fundamentally different from the benign relationship seen in commensalism.