Question

Explain the difference between predation and parasitism.

Answer 1

Hint: Parasitism and predation are the two different types of interactions seen among living organisms. These are the forms of interaction where one organism depends on others for their life, either to complete their life cycle or to survive by meeting their food requirements by killing the other animal.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Parasitism and predation is an antagonistic interaction seen between two species where one is affected and the other species get the benefits. Parasitism involves interaction between a parasite and host, where the parasite is beneficial (obtaining food and shelter) and causes harm to the host (parasite causes diseases in the host). On the other hand, predation is an interaction involving a predator and prey, where the predator (beneficiary) feeds on the prey for its nutrition requirement hence, killing the prey (affected species).

Features	Parasitism	Predation
Specificity	The relationship between the two organisms is very specific. Often parasites are associated with a definite host.	No specific relationship between the organisms. Predators feed on any prey species without any specificity.
Metabolic dependency	Parasite depends on the host for their metabolism.	No metabolic dependency involved.
Size of the organisms	The host is larger than the parasites.	Prey is smaller than predators.
Action	Passive action of parasites on the host. Parasites act slowly and steadily on the host.	Predators are active and require a sudden attack on prey.
Final affects	Affects the health of the host but does not kill them.	Predators kill the prey.
Dependency	Parasite depends on the host to complete its life cycle.	Predators depend on prey for their food requirements for survival.
Example	Parasite: mosquito, host: human| Parasite: tapeworm, host: cow | Parasite: Cuscuta, host: plant	Predator: Lion, prey: Zebra| Predator: Bear, prey: fish| Predator: Fox, prey: Rabbit

Additional Information:
1) Interaction among organisms are of two types:
a. Intraspecific interaction: involve interaction among organisms of the same species. This is basically a competitive interaction where one organism competes with another organism of the same species for survival. This type of interaction plays a major role in natural selection. Example two male birds fighting for mates in the same area.
b. Interspecific interaction: is the interaction among organisms of different species, which can be beneficial, harmful, or ineffective.

2) Interspecific interaction and further be of four main types:
a. Mutualism (+/+) where both the species gain benefits.
b. Commensalism (+/0) here while one organism benefits, the other one is unaffected.
c. Competition (-/-) both organisms compete with each other, thus both are affected by the presence of others.
d. Predation, parasitism, and herbivory (+/-) this type of relationship benefits one species and affects the other species.
3) Antagonistic interaction: where one organism is beneficial and harmful for the other organism. Such type of interaction involves predation, herbivory, and parasitism.
4)Predation is a type of interaction that keeps the population of organisms (prey) under control to maintain ecological balance.
5)Herbivory is similar to predation, just the species under relationship changes. That is herbivore animals (predators) feed on plants (prey) for their nutritional requirements. Thus, destroying the plants and affecting their population size.

Note: Interaction among organisms at an individual level can be either helpful to both the organism or harmful to one and beneficial to the other. But at the population level, all these interactions are beneficial as it stabilizes the population growth.