Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. An example of this is the relationship between barnacles and whales. The barnacles attach themselves to the whale's skin, gaining access to nutrient-rich waters as the whale swims, while the whale remains unaffected. In commensalism, the benefiting organism is called the commensal, while the other is referred to as the host. This relationship can be found in various ecosystems, such as epiphytic plants growing on trees, where the plants gain a place to live without impacting the tree's health.