Commensalism, Mutualism, and Parasitism

Evolutionary biology describes the relationships of living things in four ways.

First there's commensalism, which is when one species derives benefit from another, but does no harm to the other. Remora fish attach themselves to larger sea creatures like whales for transport and to find food.

Then there's mutualism, which is a symbiosis by two different animals species. A red billed oxpecker eats the parasites off of a cape buffalo's back.

Next is amensalism wherein one species harms another without any effects to the first organism. A cow tramples grass when it walks over it.

Last there's parasitism, where one species, the parasite, directly lives off of and harms the other, the host. A tapeworm attaches itself inside the intestines of animals, stealing nutrients and depriving the animal.

Humans are also living things.

Are you a free-rider like a remora or benevolent and provide free rides like the whale?

Are you intentionally stepping on others without realizing it, like a cow, or are you a blade of grass constantly being put down without a voice?

Are you parasitic, encroaching and doing harm to others? Are others doing harm to you?

And what relationships do you have that are healthy like the oxpecker and the cape buffalo?

If we ask ourselves these questions, then we are on track to a more symbiotic relationship with the world.