🪱 Parasitism
Parasitism is a relationship in biology where one organism (the parasite) lives on or inside another organism (the host) and benefits, while the host is harmed.
🧠 Core idea
- 🪱 Parasite → benefits
- 🧍 Host → gets harmed
The parasite depends on the host for food, shelter, or survival.
🐛 Types of parasitism
🧍♂️ 1. Ectoparasites (outside the body)
Live on the surface of the host:
- Lice
- Fleas
- Ticks
They usually feed on blood or skin.
🧫 2. Endoparasites (inside the body)
Live inside organs or tissues:
- Tapeworms
- Roundworms
- Malaria parasite (Plasmodium)
These can affect digestion, blood, or other systems.
🌿 Examples in nature
- Fleas on dogs 🐕
- Tapeworms in intestines 🧍
- Mistletoe growing on trees 🌳
- Mosquito transmitting malaria 🦟
⚠️ Effects on the host
Parasitism can cause:
- Weakness and fatigue
- Nutrient loss
- Disease (like malaria)
- Organ damage in severe cases
🔄 Difference from other relationships
- 🟢 Mutualism → both benefit
- 🟡 Commensalism → one benefits, other unaffected
- 🔴 Parasitism → one benefits, one is harmed
🧾 Bottom line
Parasitism is a natural survival strategy where:
one organism benefits by living off another, which is harmed in the process
If you want, I can give you easy exam notes or diagrams to memorize it quickly 👍
