parasite
Let an agent explain parasites and parasitism across the tree of life, relay classification, life cycles and impacts from biology and public health sources, describe behavioural parasitism, and distinguish parasites from predators, commensals and pathogens generally.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain parasites and parasitism across the tree of life, relay classification, life cycles and impacts from biology and public health sources, describe behavioural parasitism, and distinguish parasites from predators, commensals and pathogens generally.
An organism that lives on or in another organism, the host, obtaining nutrients at the host expense, including protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium, parasitic worms, ectoparasites such as lice and parasitic crustaceans, parasitic plants such as mistletoe and dodder, parasitic fungi, and behavioural forms such as brood parasites like cuckoos and social parasites in insect colonies; parasitism is one of the most common ways of life, shapes evolution and causes major human, animal and crop diseases.
What it is for: Not applicable; an ecological way of life.
It can be explain parasitism and kinds; relay life cycles and impacts; describe behavioural parasitism; distinguish from related relationships.
Distinguishing features
Host dependence
Harm to host
Complex life cycles
Diverse taxa
What it looks like
Not a visible object; organisms from microbes to plants living on hosts.
Physical character
share of species that are parasitic: about 40 percent - estimates
malaria deaths: about 600000 per year - WHO
How it is recognised
Organism living at a host expense
Protozoan parasites, worms, lice, parasitic crustaceans, parasitic plants, brood parasites, social parasites
Predators kill and consume; commensals do no harm; mutualists benefit the host
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
lives on - at its expense
is contrasted with - and commensalism
is studied in - as a discipline
In practice
Families and kinds
protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium and Giardia
helminths such as tapeworms, flukes and nematodes
ectoparasites such as lice, ticks and parasitic crustaceans
parasitic plants such as mistletoe, dodder and Rafflesia
parasitic fungi and parasitoids
brood parasites such as cuckoos and cowbirds
social parasites in ants and bees
hyperparasites
Standards and regulation
Public health programmes for parasitic diseases
Veterinary and plant health regulations
Biosecurity rules on parasite spread
Failure modes and hazards
Parasitic diseases in people, animals and crops
Confusing parasites with pathogens or predators
Agents giving personal medical advice
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.parasite
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a parasite is.
Science.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a parasite, and how does parasitism differ from predation, commensalism and mutualism? definition
- Is the question about parasites in general, a specific parasite or a human infection? boundary
Kinds
Kinds.
Kinds
Kinds.
- What kinds exist, from protozoa and worms to lice, parasitic crustaceans, parasitic plants, brood and social parasites? definition
- Which entry fits the specific kind? action
Biology Biology and evolution.
Science.
Life cycles
Life cycles.
Life cycles
Life cycles.
- How do parasites find hosts, complete life cycles and evade defences? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Evolution
Evolution.
Evolution
Evolution.
- How does parasitism shape host evolution, immunity and sexual reproduction, with theories attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits host-parasite coevolution? action
Impact Impacts.
Public health.
Health
Human health.
Health
Health.
- What parasitic diseases affect people, and how are they prevented and treated, in general terms? provenance
- Is the user asking about their own symptoms, which need a clinician? boundary
Animals
Animals and crops.
Animals
Animals.
- How do parasites affect livestock, wildlife and crops, and how are they controlled? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Context Behaviour and culture.
Context.
Behavioural
Brood and social parasites.
Behavioural
Behavioural.
- How do cuckoos, cowbirds and social parasites exploit hosts? provenance
- Which entry fits brood parasite? action
Culture
Culture.
Culture
Culture.
- How do parasites appear in culture and metaphor, and how is the term misused for people? provenance
- Which entry fits parasitism in culture? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should brood parasite and parasitic plant be separate primary entries?
- How should parasitology sources be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming distinct kinds; should they be split off?