Parasitism Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary terms and definitions related to parasitism, host-parasite relationships, and related concepts discussed in the lecture.

Parasitism

A type of symbiotic relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (the host).

Macroparasite

Large parasites that can live outside their hosts, often visible to the naked eye, such as worms and ticks.

Microparasite

Small, often microscopic parasites like bacteria and protozoa that live inside their host.

Ectoparasite

Parasites that live on the external surface of their host, such as fleas and lice.

Endoparasite

Parasites that live within their host's body, such as tapeworms.

Symbiont

An organism that lives in close association with another, typically larger, organism.

Phytoalexins

Antimicrobial compounds produced by plants in response to pathogen infection.

Coevolution

The process where host and parasite populations evolve in response to each other.

Defenses and Counterdefenses

The mechanisms used by hosts to defend against parasites and the strategies parasites employ to overcome host defenses.

Toxoplasma gondii

A parasite that can affect the behavior of its host, specifically removing fear of predators in rodents.