Niche and Parasite Life Cycles Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an ecological niche?

A

A multi dimensional summary of the tolerances and requirements of a species.

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2
Q

What is a fundamental niche?

A

The niche a species occupies in the absence of any interspecific competition.

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3
Q

What is a realised niche?

A

The niche a species occupies when there is interspecific competition.

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4
Q

What can be the result of interspecific competition?

A

Competitive exclusion.

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5
Q

What is competitive exclusion?

A

Where the niches of two species are so similar that one species declines to extinction.

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6
Q

How can potential competitors live simultaneously when their niches are sufficiently different?

A

By resource partitioning.

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7
Q

What is parasitism?

A

A symbiotic relationship between parasite and host.

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8
Q

Who benefits in a parasitic symbiotic relationship?

A

The parasite - it gains nutrients.

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9
Q

How has greater reproductive ability - parasite or host?

A

Parasite.

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10
Q

Why do most parasites have a narrow niche?

A

As they are very host specific.

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11
Q

Why are many parasites degenerate?

A

As the host provides so many of the parasites needs.

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12
Q

Where do ectoparasites live?

A

On the surface of its host.

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13
Q

Where do endoparasites live?

A

Within the tissue of the host.

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14
Q

What is a definitive host?

A

The organism in which the parasite reaches sexual maturity.

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15
Q

What is the role of a vector?

A

Transmission of the parasite and sometimes act as hosts.

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16
Q

What causes malaria?

A

Plasmodium.

17
Q

How is malaria spread?

A

An infected mosquito, acting as a vector, bites a human.
Plasmodium enters blood stream.
Asexual reproduction occurs in liver and red blood cells.
Red blood cells burst and gametocytes released into bloodstream.
Mosquito bites infected human - gametocytes enter mosquito and sexual reproduction occurs.
Mosquito infects another human.

18
Q

What do Schistosomes cause?

A

Schistosomiasis.

19
Q

How do schistosomes cause infection?

A

They reproduce sexually in human intestine.
Fertilised eggs pass out via faeces into water where they develop into larvae.
Larvae infect water snails and asexually reproduce.
This produces another type of motile larvae which escape the snail and penetrate the skin of human.

20
Q

What are viruses?

A

Parasites that can only replicate within a host cell.

21
Q

How is a virus’ genetic material stored?

A

As DNA or RNA and packaged in a protective protein coat.

22
Q

Some viruses are surrounded by a phospholipid membrane - where is this derived from?

A

From host cell material.

23
Q

What is found on the surface of viruses?

A

Antigens.

24
Q

Is the host cell always able to detect viruses as foreign?

A

No

25
Q

What are the stages of the viral life cycles?

A
  • The virus infects the host with its genetic material
  • The host cell enzymes replicate the viral genome
  • Transcription and translation of viral genes and proteins
  • New viral particles are produced and released