Parasitism and Mutualism

Terms:
co-evolution, parasitism, parasitoid, endo and ectoparasites, gene for gene response, specialist, generalist, galls, social parasitism, brood parasite, kleptoparasitism, obligate and facultative mutualism, symbiotic and non-symbiotic interactions

brood parasite: A bird that lays its eggs in the nest of another species and lets that species raise its young, often at the expense of the hosts young.

co-evolution: Joint evolution of two or more non-interbreeding species with close ecological relationships, and where the evolution of one species is partly dependent on the evolution of the other.

ectoparasite: A parasite that lives on the outer tissues of its host.

endoparasite: A parasite that lives internally in its host.

facultative mutualism: A mutualistic relationship that does not need to occur for one or both species involved to survive.

galls: A plant growth or knob formed around eggs and/or larva of parasites on the plant after the plant recognizes the presence of the parasite.

gene for gene response: A type of evolution between a parasite and its host where, when the host evolves a new defense against the parasite, the latter also will evolve a character that nullifies that defense.

generalist: A predator that feeds on a variety of prey species.

kleptoparasitism: A type of parasitism, usually confined to birds, where one species steals the prey that was taken by another species.

non-symbiotic interaction:  When two species interact, usually in a mutualism, where they are in contact only occasionally.

obligate mutualism: A mutualistic relationship that must occur for one or both species involved in the relationship to survive.

parasitism: An interaction between two species where one benefits and the other is harmed.

parasitoid: An organism, usually an insect, that kills or consumes its host when developing.

social parasitism: A type of parasitism where the parasite is partially dependent on the social system of its host.

specialist: A predator that specializes on only one type of prey.

symbiotic interaction: When two species interact, either in mutualism or parasitism, in an intimate relationship where they are in constant contact.