Parasitism

Question 1

Define parasitism

Answer 1

Parasitism occurs when two organisms of different species live in close association and one organism (the parasite) obtains its food from, and to the disadvantage of, the second organism (the host).

Question 2

What does a parasite do?

Answer 2

It lives in or on the body of the host, to which it normally causes harm.

Question 3

What are exoparasites?

Answer 3

(ectoparasites) live on the outside of the host

Question 4

What are endoparasites?

Answer 4

they live inside the host

Question 5

Give an example of ectoparasites

Answer 5

fleas on dogs, mosquitoes or blood-sucking leeches on human skin and aphids such as greenflies on a rose bush

Question 6

Give an example of endoparasites

Answer 6

liver flukes in sheep and cattle, potato blight fungus in potato plants and tapeworms in human intestines

Question 7

What do parasites do to the host?

Answer 7

Parasites often weaken the host but do not kill it. Therefore, they do not significantly reduce the numbers of their host but in some cases they can reduce the numbers in a population (potato-blight infection)