Parasites

• where do parasites live?

  they live on or in an organism of another species called the host
• what do parasites do to the host?

  • they obtain nourishment at the host’s expense
  • they cause some harm and often death
• what is a parasite?

  an organism that obtains nutrients from another living organism or host, to which it causes harm
• how long are organisms usually parasitised for?

  many organisms are parasitised for at least part of their lives
• what are plants an animals parasitised by?

  • bacteria
  • fungi
  • viruses
  • nematodes
  • insects
• what are other things that animals are also parasitised for that plants aren’t?

  • protoctistans
  • tapeworms
  • mites
• what are bacteria parasitised by?

  by viruses, called bacteriophages
• why is the study of parasites economically important?

  its economically important because they cause disease in humans, crops and domesticated animals