Parasitism as a form of predation

Question 1

Why could scientists regard parasitism as a form of predation

Answer 1

both interactions involve an organism deriving benefit (parasite or predator) and one being disadvantaged (host or prey)

Question 2

How do parasites differ from predators

Answer 2

They differ as they do not kill their hosts deliberately because the host must stay alive in order to support the parasite. Should the host die, the parasite will lose its habitat and food source and thus die.

Question 3

Name other differences between predators and parasites

Answer 3

Predators are larger than their prey while parasites are smaller than their hosts. Parasites also spend the greater part of their life cycle on or in a specific host, while predators hunt, kill and eat fresh prey every time