Ecology

Parasitism

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Definition

A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of the host organism.

Detailed Explanation

Parasites are among the most evolutionarily successful organisms on Earth — nearly every free-living species hosts multiple parasite species. Unlike predators, parasites rarely immediately kill hosts, instead manipulating host behavior to enhance transmission. Toxoplasma gondii makes rodents attracted to cat odor, increasing the parasite's chance of reaching its definitive feline host.

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