Animal Domestication A. Symbiosis 1. Definition - a biological situation in which at least two different kinds of organisms interact,the actors can include plants, animals, or plant and animal. The specific type of symbiosis between man and aninmal is termed mutualism. In this situation the two species benefit from each other. Domestication of animals is an example of a symbiotic relationship.
Man provides food and shelter to the animals, and they provide meat, milk and fiber for man.
Definition - includes those animals whose breeding is or can be controlled by humans. Animals caught in the wild and tamed are not considered domesticated. Once they are bred in captivity and selected for particular qualities, such as docility, size, color, horn size, meat production, etc., then they can be considered domesticated. A domestic animal, or one descended from a domestic population, cannot truly revert to being a wild animal. Domestic animals that return to nature and breed are termed feral.