parasitism
Host-harming symbiosis type
Parasitism is a relationship in which one organism lives on or inside another, benefiting at the host's expense.
Tapeworms, ticks, and mistletoe are parasites.
The term extends to human behavior: His parasitism on his wealthy relatives was obvious to everyone.
Unlike mutualism or commensalism, parasitism implies harm to the host.
One receiving guests
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- vectorQuantity with direction
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- life-cycleOrganism's complete developmental sequence
reproduction · ectoparasite · endoparasite · niche · coevolution · adaptation · transmission · infestation
Segmented intestinal parasite
- hookwormIntestinal blood-feeding nematode
- roundwormParasitic cylindrical worm
- flukeChance stroke of luck
- tickParasitic eight-legged pest
flea · louse · mite · mosquito · leech · plasmodium · giardia · toxoplasma
Neutral host, benefiting guest
- mutualismTwo-way biological benefit
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- interspecificBetween different species
- coexistenceSimultaneous presence together
trophic · predation · competition · antagonism · interdependence
Exploiting others' generosity
- moochingHabitually seeking handouts
- leechingExtracting gradually, parasitically
- spongingTaking without reciprocating
- bloodsuckingExtracting blood for nourishment
draining · sapping · vampirism · opportunism · dependency · manipulation · extraction · usurpation
Science of categorical arrangement
- immunologyScience of bodily defenses
- microbiologyStudy of microscopic life
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
- entomologyStudy of insects
protozoology · zoonosis · etiology · diagnosis · treatment · prevention · veterinary · research
Mosquito-borne parasitic infection
- scabiesMite-caused skin infestation
- leishmaniasisSandfly-transmitted parasitic disease
- trichinosisParasitic worm infection
- toxoplasmosisParasitic infection from cats
host
One receiving guests
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- vectorQuantity with direction
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
life-cycle · reproduction · ectoparasite · endoparasite · niche · coevolution · adaptation · transmission · infestation · carrier
tapeworm
Segmented intestinal parasite
- hookwormIntestinal blood-feeding nematode
- roundwormParasitic cylindrical worm
- flukeChance stroke of luck
tick · flea · louse · mite · mosquito · leech · plasmodium · giardia · toxoplasma · pinworm
commensalism
Neutral host, benefiting guest
- mutualismTwo-way biological benefit
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- interspecificBetween different species
coexistence · trophic · predation · competition · antagonism · interdependence
freeloading
Exploiting others' generosity
- moochingHabitually seeking handouts
- leechingExtracting gradually, parasitically
- spongingTaking without reciprocating
bloodsucking · draining · sapping · vampirism · opportunism · dependency · manipulation · extraction · usurpation · one-sided
taxonomy
Science of categorical arrangement
- immunologyScience of bodily defenses
- microbiologyStudy of microscopic life
- epidemiologyStudy of disease spread
entomology · protozoology · zoonosis · etiology · diagnosis · treatment · prevention · veterinary · research · microscopy
malaria
Mosquito-borne parasitic infection
- scabiesMite-caused skin infestation
- leishmaniasisSandfly-transmitted parasitic disease
- trichinosisParasitic worm infection
toxoplasmosis · giardiasis · elephantiasis · mange · pediculosis
- coevolutioncoevolution, arms race, Red Queen hypothesis, cospeciation, predator-prey
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- zoologymammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects
- dependencedepend, depend on, dependency, rely, need
- ecology termsecology, biome, ecosystem, niche, habitat
- ecosystem termsproducers, consumers, decomposers, predators, prey
parasitismmutualism
Two-way biological benefit
symbiosis · commensalism · cooperation · mutual benefit · reciprocity
parasitismreciprocity
Mutual exchange of actions
altruism · giving · generosity · contribution · philanthropy
parasitismautotrophy
Producing food internally
self-sufficiency · independence · self-reliance · free-living · autonomy
- parasitic relationshipOne organism drains another
- parasitic diseaseCondition caused by host-dependent organisms
- parasitic wormsOrganisms inhabiting host bodies
- nest parasitismExploiting others' parental care
- parasitic behaviorExploiting others for gain
- parasitic waspsInsects breeding inside others
parasitic, parasitize, parasitical, parasitized, parasitically, antiparasitic, parasitizing, antiparasitics