PARASITISM AND MUTUALISM

Desty Bulandari
Erika Ester
Rahma Hanifah

Group 4
Biology Education A 2015
 CHARACTERISTICS OF PARASITES
Parasitism is a symbiotic
between individuals of two
species in which one
benefits from the
association while the other
is harmed.
the parasite, benefits
from a prolonged, close
association with the other
species—
the host, which is harmed.
Parasites are distinguished by size:
• Microparasites include viruses, bacteria, and
protozoans.
• Macroparasites are relatively large. Examples
include flatworms, acanthocephalans,
roundworms, flukes, lice, flieas, ticks, fungi.
Parasitic plants may be classified as
holoparasites or hemiparasites based on
whether they carry out the process of
photosynthesis.
• Hemiparasites, such as most species of
mistletoe
• Holoparasites, such as broomrape and
dodder
Parasites that live on the host’s skin, within the
protective cover of feathers and hair, are
ectoparasites. Others, known as endoparasites,
live within the host.
 PARASITE-HOST RELATIONSHIPS
Parasites exploit every conceivable habitat in host
organisms.
A heavy load of parasites is termed an
infection, and the outcome of an infection is a
disease.
DEFINITIVE & INTERMEDIATE HOSTS
The host species in which the parasite
becomes an adult and reaches maturity is
referred to as the definitive host. All others
are intermediate hosts, which harbor some
developmental phase.
 -DIRECT TRANSMISSION-
Direct transmission occurs when a parasite is
transferred from one host to another without
the involvement of an intermediate
organism.
Example:
Microparasites : influenza viruses.
Macroparasites : the roundworms ( Ascaris ).
 -INDIRECT TRANSMISSION-
Some parasites are
transmitted between hosts
by an intermediate
organism, or vector.
Example :
Malaria parasites
(Plasmodium) infect
vertebrate species,
transmitted to the
bloodstream by Anopheles
-TRANSMISSION CAN INVOLVE
MULTIPLE HOSTS AND STAGES-
 RESPONSE TO INFECTION
Hosts respond to parasitic infections through
behavioral changes, inflammatory responses at the
site of infection, and subsequent activation of their
immune system.
INFLUENCE ON MORTALITY AND
REPRODUCTION

Parasites can reduce fecundity and increase

mortality rates of the host population.
POPULATION
RESPONSE
 PREDATION TO MUTUALISM

Mutualism is a positive reciprocal relationship

between two species that may have evolved from
predator-prey or host-parasite relationships.
MUTUALISTIC RELATIONSHIPS
Mutualistic relationships involve diverse
interactions.
NUTRIENT UPTAKE
 MUTUALISMS INVOLVING DEFENSE

Other mutualistic associations

are associated with defense of
the host organism.
 POLLINATION
Nonsymbiotic mutualisms are involved in the
pollination of many species of flowering plants.
 SEED DISPERSAL

Mutualism is also
involved in seed
dispersal.
POPULATION DYNAMICS