Domesticated Animals and Commensalism

Domesticated animals, such as cattle, horses, and sheep, can play a significant role in commensalism relationships in human-managed ecosystems. 

For example:

• As mentioned earlier, cattle and cattle egrets are classic examples of domesticated animal symbiosis. Cattle attract insects that feed on cattle egrets, but the cattle themselves are not affected by the presence of cattle egrets.
• Horses and botflies are other examples of domesticated animal commensalism. The botfly lays eggs on the horse, and the larvae feed on the horse’s sweat and other secretions without causing significant damage to the horse.
• Chickens and red ticks are other examples of domesticated commensals. Chicken mites feed on chicken blood while they are asleep without causing any significant damage to the chicken. However, large numbers of red mites can be a nuisance to chickens, causing blood loss, reduced egg production, and increased stress.

A commensal symbiosis is a symbiotic relationship between two species in which one species benefits from association, while the other species neither benefits nor harms.