A Relational Hierarchy
Some biological/ecological criteria for classic relationships between living organisms
See JW's article Re-languaging the Creative for more context.
| eco | P1 | P2 | Coupling | Description |
|
| + | +
| Mutual | Ecosystem benefits / beneficial to both partners |
|
| + | 0 | Commensal | Ecosystem benefits / one partner benefits / no harm to the other. |
|
| + | — | Exploitative | Ecosystem benefits / one partner benefits at expense of other. |
|
| — | 0 | Amensal | Ecosystem benefits / negative effect on one of the partners |
|
| — | — | Competitive | Ecosystem benefits / both partners suffer |
|
| + | +
| Mutual | Neutral to ecosystem / beneficial to both partners |
|
| + | 0 | Commensal | Neutral to ecosystem / one partner benefits / no harm to the other. |
|
| + | — | Exploitative | Neutral to ecosystem / one partner benefits at expense of other. |
|
| — | 0 | Amensal | Neutral to ecosystem / negative effects on one of the partners |
|
| — | — | Competitive
| Neutral to ecosystem / both partners suffer |
|
| 0 | 0 | Neutral | Neutral to ecosystem / no benefits or difficulties for either partner. |
|
| + | +
| Mutual | Damage to ecosystem / beneficial to both partners |
|
| + | 0 | Commensal | Damage to ecosystem / one partner benefits / no harm to the other. |
|
| + | — | Exploitative | Damage to ecosystem / one partner benefits at expense of other. |
|
| — | 0 | Amensal | Damage to ecosystem / negative effects on one of the partners |
|
| — | — | Competitive | Damage to ecosystem / both partners suffer |
Table 2: Relative benefit/loss chart for different types of coupling
See also Grading Asset Relations
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