Sybmiotic Lifestyles in Protozoans

SYMBIOTIC LIFESTYLES

Many protozoa have symbiotic lifestyles. Symbiosis is an intimate association between two organisms. There are following types of symbiosis in protozoans:

1. Parasitism: An association in which one organism lives in or on a second organism, host and causes disease in the host is called parasitism. The host is harmed. But this host is usually survives till the completion of one or more life cycle. The relationships between a parasite and its host are complex. Some parasites has multiple hosts. These hosts may be:

(a) Definitive host: The sexual stages of the parasite occur in definite host.

(b) Intermediate host: The offspring of sexual stages enter into another host. called In n intermediate host. The reproduce asexually in intermediate host. Some life cycles require more than one intermediate host and more than one immature stage. The final asexual stage reaches the definitive host. Therefore, the life of the parasite is completed.

2. Commensalisms: The symbiotic relationship in which one member of the relationship benefits and the second member are neither benefited nor harmed is called commensalims.

3. Mutualism: The symbiotic relationship in which both species get benefit is called mutualism.

Similar Articles:

• DEFINITIONS AND KEY POINTS FOR OBJECTIVES
• SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
• Interspecific Interactions , Competition , Coevolution & Symbiosis
• OBJECTIVES OF ECOLOGY AND POPULATION
• DEFINITIONS AND KEY POINTS OF ECOLOGY INDIVIDUAL AND POPULATION