amensalism

[ ey-men-suh-liz-uhm ]

noun

, Ecology.

1. a relationship between two species of organisms in which the individuals of one species adversely affect those of the other and are unaffected themselves.

amensalism

/ ā-mĕn′sə-lĭz′əm /

1. A relationship between two organisms in which one organism is harmed or inhibited and the other is unaffected. Examples of amensalism include the shading out of one plant by a taller and wider one and the inhibition of one plant by the secretions of another (known as allelopathy).
2. Compare commensalism

Word History and Origins

Origin of amensalism¹

Probably a- ⁶ + (com)mensal + -ism