Key Area 5-Parasitism Flashcards
What is symbiosis?
An intimate relationship between two different species where at least one of the species benefits nutritionally
What is a parasite?
A symbiont that benefits in terms of nutrition at the expense of their hosting
What is a host?
Something th parasite lives in or on and takes nutrients from
What percentage of all species are parasitic?
At least half
What percentage of all free living species are thought to host parasites?
All of them
How is reproductive potential in parasite-host relationship compared to predator-prey relationships
It is much greater as the reproductive potential of the parasite is far greater than that of the host
What is the parasite niche?
A multidimensional summary of the tolerances and requirements of a species
What is the size of a parasite niche?
Parasites tend to have a narrow niche as they are very host specific
Why can parasites be termed degenerate?
They often have a limited metabolism due to the fact that the host provides this function for the parasite so it doesn’t have to possess reproductive organs
What is an ectoparasite?
A parasite that lives on the surface of their host
What is an endoparasite?
A parasite that lives inside their host
Describe the balance between parasites and hosts?
A balance exists between the damage exerted by the parasite and the defence of the host, they constantly evolve with each generation
What is a definitive host?
The organisms in/on which the parasite reaches sexual maturity
What is an intermediate host?
An organism in/on which the parasite may complete some or part of its life cycle
What is a vector?
An organism that plays a role in the transmission of the parasite
What other function can a vector be?
A host
What is a fundamental niche?
The niche occupied in the absence of any interspecific competing influences
What is a realises niche?
The niche occupied in response to interspecific competition
What is competitive exclusion?
When two different species are so different one dies out completely
When does resource partitioning occur?
If the realises niche are so different-competition is reduced by organisms adapting to the pH and nutrients at different areas
What is transmission?
The spread of a parasite to a host
What is virulence?
The harm caused to the host species by the parasite
What are two qualities of a successful parasite?
- rapid evolution
- efficient modes of transmission
What are two factors that increase transmission rates of parasites?
- hosts density is high
- parasite has mechanisms of transmission even when host is incapacitated
How do parasites alter host behaviour?
They alter the host behaviour in favour of the parasite and the behaviour becaimes part of the parasite’s extended phenotype
What are five host modifications?
Foraging behaviour Movement Sexual behaviour Habitat choice Anti-predator behaviour