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Predation and Parasitism Differences in Biology Import Concepts Must to Know

Question. Difference between Predation and Parasitism.

Answer:

Predators:

  • Predators are organisms that hunt and kill other organisms for food. The organisms that are consumed by the predators are known as the prey. Predators can be carnivores and omnivores. Lion, tiger, sharks, snakes, all are predators.
  • Predators can also fall prey to other large animals depending on where they fall in the food chain. E. g. , a snake is a predator to a mouse, but prey to a hawk.

Types of Predators:

Predators can fall under the following categories:

1. Carnivores:

Carnivorous predators kill and eat their prey. They include large animals such as the lion and tiger. Each carnivore has its own mode of feeding, from sea otters feeding on sea stars to blue whales feeding on zooplankton and small marine animals.

2. Herbivores:

These include animals such as cows, buffaloes, goat, sheep, deer, that consume plants and plant products.

3. Parasites:

These predators live in the body of the host and derive nutrients from its body for survival and reproduction. In this, the host suffers a loss of energy but is not always killed.

Predator Adaptations:

Predators adapt in the following ways in order to attack and catch their prey:

  • The predators use camouflage that helps them to hide from the prey so that they can make a sudden attack. This also prevents them from any dangerous defence mechanism a predator might have.
  • Their mechanical adaptations such as sharp teeth, claws, thick skin and faster speed and superior strength help them to take over the prey.
  • The chemical adaptations include venom, toxins and poison to kill the prey. They have also evolved chemical adaptations that protect them from the chemical defenses of the prey. E. g. , monarch butterflies feed on the milkweed plant that contains poison. They are evolved such that they are not affected by it.

Predator Examples

Following are some of the examples of predators:

Large Predators:

  • The large predators have special adaptations to kill their prey. Polar bear, killer whales and great white sharks are some of the large predators found on earth.
  • The polar bear largely feeds on seals. The killer whales eat seals, sea lions, fish, etc. The great white sharks are the most dangerous ocean predator and feed on almost every organism.

Small Predators:

  • Small predators do not cause mass destruction. E. g. , sea stars feed largely on various types of shellfish. The ladybug is the smallest predator that feeds on aphids.
  • Other predators include lion, tiger, bear, wolf, leopard, dogs, snakes, crocodiles, etc.

Parasitism:

  • The word parasite is derived from the Latin form of the Greek word, meaning “one who eats at the table of another” .
  • Parasitism is generally defined as a relationship between the two living species in which one organism is benefitted at the expense of the other. The organism that is benefitted is called the parasite, while the one that is harmed is called the host.
  • A few examples of parasites are tapeworms, fleas, and barnacles. Tapeworms are flatworms that are found attached to the insides of the intestines of animals such as cows, pigs, etc. They feed on the host՚s partly digested food, depriving it of the nutrients.

Types of Parasitism:

There are various types of parasitism and are classified based on their size, characteristics, interactions with their hosts and their life cycles.

1. Obligate Parasitism:

This is the kind of parasitism in which the parasite is completely dependent on the host to complete its life cycle. Obligate parasites cannot survive without the host. Therefore, they do not severely harm the host. Fungi, bacteria and viruses exhibit obligate parasitism. For e. g. , head lice, when removed from the human scalp, dies.

2. Facultative Parasitism:

In this kind of parasitism, the parasite is not completely dependent on the host to complete its life cycle and can survive without the host. A nematode species Strongyloides stercoral is found free-living but causes a disease strongyloidiasis when it infects humans.

3. Ectoparasitism:

The parasites that live outside the body of the host exhibit ectoparasitism. For e. g. , lice and ticks

4. Endoparasitism:

Parasites that live inside the body of a host exhibit endoparasitism. For e. g. , hookworms and nematodes.

5. Mesoparasitism:

The parasites that enter the external openings of the host exhibit mesoparasitism.

Examples of Parasitism:

There are many examples of parasites, as it is a type of interaction between the two species. Listed below are some of the common examples of parasitism.

Parasitism in Humans:

The organisms that parasitize humans include fungi, leeches, lice, viruses, protozoa, tapeworm, etc. Few organisms such as Helminthes live inside the intestine of the host and causes several infectious diseases, such as jaundice, malnutrition, diarrhoea, etc. All the infections are caused by viruses and bacteria.

Parasitism in Plants:

Small green insects called aphids, parasitize plants by eating their sap. Several types of fungi parasitize crops ad spoil fruits, vegetables and food grains. The parasitic plants contain modified roots called haustoria which connect to the host xylem or phloem and drain it of nutrients and water.

Parasitism in Insects:

  • Parasitism is very common in insects. Entomophagous parasites attack larva and young insects. A few insects deposit their eggs within the body of the larva of other insect species. When the eggs hatch, the young one eats the larva and derives nutrition from it.
Table of Difference between Predation and ParasitismTable of Difference between Predation and Parasitism
Differentiating PropertyPredationParasitism
DefinitionPredation refers to the act of preying of one animal on another animal.Parasitism refers to the practice of living as a parasite on or with another animal or organism.
RelationshipPredation occurs between a predator and a prey.Parasitism occurs between a parasite and a host organism.
SpecificityPredator may have several types of preys.Parasitism is a very specific relationship.
Metabolic DependencyPredation lacks any type of metabolic dependency on the prey.Parasitism metabolically depends on the host organism.
SizePredator is generally larger and stronger than the prey.Parasite is smaller than the host organism.
ProgressionPredator is very active and uses intense physical effort to catch the prey.Parasite is generally passive in its progression.
Killing the OtherPredator immediately kills the prey.Parasite does not immediately kill the host organism.
Completion of Life CycleThe life cycles of predator and prey are independent of each other.Parasite requires the host in order to complete its life cycle.
Physical AppearanceThe predator is generally larger or has a bigger frame than the prey.The parasite is generally smaller or has a smaller frame than the host.
Mode of ActionHunt, kill and attack the prey.Invade the living cells, utilizes nutrition and other benefits from the host and cause harm to the host.
Number of hostsInteract with several types of prey.Interact only with one host organism.
Mode of NutritionAcquire nutrients by killing their prey.Acquire nutrients from the host organisms.
Surplus KillersYes, they are a surplus killer, as they immediately kill their prey.No, they are not a surplus killer, as they do not immediately kill the host organism.
ExamplesPredation occurs between lion and zebra, fox and rabbit, and bear and fish.Parasitism occurs between mosquito and human, lice on humans, tapeworms in cows, and Cuscuta in plants.