Parasitism is defined as?

Parasitism is defined as?

• A. One organism benefits while the other is harmed.
• B. Both organisms benefit.
• C. One organism lives off another and attains all its nutrients from the host. The parasite benefits, and the host is harmed.
• D. No interaction occurs.

Answer: (C)

Parasitism is a relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of another. The parasite derives nutrients and resources from the host, often living on or inside it, and the host experiences harm as a result. This description matches the idea that the parasite gains from the relationship while the host is harmed. While in nature a parasite might not always take every nutrient from the host or cause severe damage, the key feature is the benefit to the parasite paired with harm to the host. This differs from mutualism, where both organisms benefit, and from commensalism, where the host is largely unaffected. Examples include tapeworms in the gut or fleas on a host animal.

Parasitism is a relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of another. The parasite derives nutrients and resources from the host, often living on or inside it, and the host experiences harm as a result. This description matches the idea that the parasite gains from the relationship while the host is harmed. While in nature a parasite might not always take every nutrient from the host or cause severe damage, the key feature is the benefit to the parasite paired with harm to the host. This differs from mutualism, where both organisms benefit, and from commensalism, where the host is largely unaffected. Examples include tapeworms in the gut or fleas on a host animal.