Parasitism is a biological relationship between two organisms of different species, where one organism known as the parasite benefits at the expense of the other organism known as the host. In this relationship, the parasite relies on the host for its survival and reproduction, resulting in harm or damage to the host.
The parasite, being the smaller of the two organisms, lives and feeds off the host, depriving it of nutrients, energy, or other resources necessary for its own growth and survival. This dependency allows the parasite to thrive, often causing damage, weakening, or even killing the host in the process.
Parasitism can occur in various forms, such as internal parasites that live inside the host's body, such as worms or bacteria, or external parasites that attach themselves to the host's surface, such as ticks or fleas. These parasites have evolved specialized adaptations to exploit the host, including hook-like structures, injecting toxins, or altering host behavior.
While the parasite benefits from the relationship, the host usually experiences negative effects, such as reduced growth, decreased survival rates, impaired reproductive success, or the development of diseases. However, not all parasites cause severe harm to their hosts, as some may live in symbiosis, where both the parasite and host benefit from the interaction to some extent.
In summary, parasitism is a mutual relationship between two organisms of different species, where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of the other organism (the host), often causing harm or damage to the host.
