(1) Parasites and predators are organisms that obtain resources from other organisms

but differ in their methods and relationships with their hosts. Parasites live in or on
another organism (the host) and derive their sustenance from its resources, often
harming the host. Parasites can be much smaller than their hosts and may not
necessarily kill the host immediately. They rely on the host for survival and reproduction.
Parasites can be classified into different categories based on their interaction with the
host:
1. Ectoparasites: These parasites, such as ticks, lice, and fleas, live on the surface
of the host's body.
2. Endoparasites: These parasites live inside the host's body, such as tapeworms,
roundworms, and certain types of bacteria.
3. Brood parasites: These parasites lay their eggs in the nests of other species,
letting the host species raise their young. A well-known example is the cuckoo
bird.
4. Parasitoids: These organisms lay their eggs inside another organism, usually
resulting in the host's death. The developing parasitoid larvae feed on the host
and eventually emerge as adults. Some types of wasps are parasitoids.
On the other hand, predators actively hunt, kill, and consume other organisms for
sustenance. Predation usually results in the death of the prey. Predators are often
larger and more mobile than their prey, and they have adaptations such as sharp claws,
teeth, or other specialized structures to catch and consume their prey.
Key Differences:
1. Death of Host/Prey: Predators typically kill their prey, while parasites may or
may not kill their hosts.
2. Relationship with Host/Prey: Parasites have a more prolonged and intimate
relationship with their hosts, as they need them to survive and reproduce.
Predators have more direct and often short-lived interactions with their prey.
3. Size and Mobility: Predators are often larger and more mobile than prey.
Parasites can vary in size, and many are smaller than their hosts.
 4. Method of Obtaining Resources: Parasites usually obtain resources from the
host's body without killing it immediately, while predators actively hunt and
consume their prey.
5. Impact on Host/Prey Population: Parasites may have a less direct impact on
host population dynamics than predators, which can have a more immediate
effect on prey populations.
In summary, parasites, and predators both rely on other organisms for sustenance. Still,
parasites have a more complex and prolonged relationship with their hosts, whereas
predators are more focused on hunting and consuming their prey.
(2) Parasites live on or within another organism (the host) and derive nutrients and other
benefits at the host's expense. They typically rely on the host for survival and
reproduction. However, some parasites have evolved to exhibit periods of free-living
behavior, where they can exist independently of a host for at least part of their life cycle.
These free-living stages often include finding a new host, dispersal, or reproduction.
Here are a few examples of parasites that have free-living stages:
1. Toxoplasma gondii: This protozoan parasite is responsible for toxoplasmosis,
which can infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. It
spends part of its life cycle in a free-living state in the environment, where it can
be ingested by a new host, such as a cat, to complete its life cycle.
2. Giardia lamblia: Giardia is a flagellated protozoan parasite that causes
giardiasis in humans and other animals. It has an environmentally resistant cyst
stage that can survive outside the host, allowing it to be transmitted through
contaminated water sources.
3. Hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale): These
intestinal parasites can have a free-living stage in the soil, developing from larvae
to infective forms. They can enter a host by penetrating the skin, usually through
contact with contaminated soil.
4. Fasciola hepatica: This parasitic flatworm causes liver fluke infections in various
animals, including humans. It has a free-living aquatic larval stage, which infects
snails before it transforms into an infective stage that mammals can ingest.
5. Plasmodium species: The parasites responsible for causing malaria, such as
Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, have a complex life cycle
involving both a mosquito vector and a vertebrate host (usually humans). While
the parasites primarily reside within the host's red blood cells, they have a free-
living stage within the mosquito's gut.
These examples highlight how some parasites have evolved mechanisms to survive
and propagate outside their host organisms, demonstrating adaptations that allow them
to exploit parasitic and free-living strategies.
(3) Five parasites and the diseases they can cause:
1. Plasmodium spp. - Malaria: Plasmodium parasites are transmitted to humans
through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. They cause malaria, a
potentially severe disease characterized by high fevers, chills, and flu-like
symptoms. Malaria can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
2. Toxoplasma gondii - Toxoplasmosis: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite
found in contaminated soil, water, and undercooked meat. It can cause
toxoplasmosis, which is usually mild but harmful to individuals with weakened
immune systems or pregnant women, potentially leading to congenital
disabilities.
3. Trypanosoma spp. - African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness) and Chagas
Disease: Different species of Trypanosoma parasites cause African
trypanosomiasis, transmitted by tsetse flies in Africa, and Chagas disease,
transmitted by triatomine bugs in the Americas. These diseases can lead to
various symptoms, including fever, fatigue, and organ damage.
4. Platyhelminthes (Schistosoma spp.) - Schistosomiasis: Schistosoma parasites,
also known as blood flukes, are transmitted through contact with contaminated
freshwater. They cause schistosomiasis, leading to chronic inflammation,
damage to organs such as the liver and bladder, and other complications.
5. Pediculus humanus corporis - Body Lice: Body lice are parasitic insects that
infest humans and feed on their blood. While they do not directly cause diseases,
they can transmit bacterial infections like typhus and trench fever when they bite
and defecate on the skin, allowing bacteria to enter the body through the
resulting skin irritation.