Question

DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A PARASITE AND A SAPROPHYTE.

Answer 1

Answer : Parasite is an organism that lives on or in another organism (called host), using it as a source of food and a place of temporary or permanent residence. The host does not benefit from cohabitation but may suffer harm. In some cases, the parasite can also be harmed by the host, e.g. some hosts produce antibodies that can reduce the parasite’s fertility, vitality, etc.

Parasites can be plants, animals or fungi. All parasites are eukaryotes.

Saprophyte is an organism that feeds on a decomposing matter from dead organisms.

Saprophytes can be both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Such are many bacteria, a significant part of the fungi, certain species of plants and animals.

Most of the saprophytes are not strictly specialized and can feed on a large variety of substrates. Some saprophytic species are specialized and use only one or a limited range of sources of organic matter.

Saprophytic organisms play a very important role in the ecosystems and in the circle of substances in the biosphere. They are a crucial part of the processing of organic matter on Earth. Saprophytes process organic substances from both autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. Thanks to them, the ground is not covered with dead organic matter.

Answer 2

Parasites

Parasites live on living organisms on a host and extracts nutrients from the host plant

example: Cuscuta plant

Saprophyte

The organisms accuquire energy from dead and decaying matter

example: fungi