Parasitism Flashcards
Define a niche.
The dimensional summary of tolerances and requirements of a species.
Identify biotic and abiotic tolerances.
Biotic - Range/density of predators, range of allopathic chemicals and range or intensity of competition from other species.
Abiotic - Range of temperatures tolerated and range of pH tolerated.
Identify biotic and abiotic requirements.
Biotic - Availability of prey, appropriate ratio and concentration of nutrients in the food and pollinators and other ecological services.
Abiotic - The presence of suitable habitat features, such as flat rocks for lizards.
Describe the difference between a realised niche and a fundamental.
Fundamental niche - The niche occupied in the absence of inter-specific competition.
Realised niche - The niche occupied in the presence of inter-specific.
Describe competitive exclusion.
As a result of interspecific competition, competitive exclusion can occur if the niches of two species are similar then competition will cause a decrease in the population local extinction of one.
Describe resource partitioning.
When realised niches are sufficiently different, potential competitors can co-exist by resource partitioning.
Define simbiosis.
A co-evolutional and intimate relationship between species.
What is the distinction between a predator-prey relationship and a parasite-host relationship.
The parasites breeding potential is higher than that of the preys.
Do parasites have narrow or wide niches,
Narrow.
What is the term given to a parasite that is lacking in structures and organs found in other organisms.
Degenerate.
Describe the role of the intermediate host and the definite host, and the vector.
Intermediate host - Required for the parasite to complete its life cycle.
Definitive host - Where parasite reaches sexual maturity.
Vector - Do not cause disease themselves, but do transport a parasite from host to host.
What is the name of the malaria-causing parasite.
Plasmodium.
What are viruses?
Parasites.
Where do viruses replicate?
In a host cell.
What are the 4 stages of viral replication?
- Attachment/ penetration - The virus attaches to the host cell and injects the host with its genetic material.
- Biosynthisis - The host cell enzymes replicate viral genome and the viral genes are transcribed and translated to produce viral proteins.
- Maturation - The viral genetic material is assembled into a protein coat.
- Lysis - The cell bursts and the viral particles are released. The virus can infect new host cells.
