Parasitism is one of the most widespread lifestyles ever to evolve. Which of the following is consistent with this finding?
A) Parasites almost always predigest their hosts' tissues and, therefore, spend less energy and require fewer structural adaptations.
B) Parasites, unlike predators, feed on almost all the tissues of their host.
C) Parasites do not generally kill their hosts; thus they can feed on the same host throughout the host's normal life span and do not have competition from decomposers.
D) Parasites generally kill their host and can feed for a very long time because they are much smaller than their host.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Parasites generally rely on their host for survival and do not want to kill them too quickly. This allows them to continue feeding on the same host for a longer time, without competition from decomposers. Additionally, some parasites have evolved mechanisms to manipulate the behavior of their host, ensuring their survival for an extended period. A and B are not true as parasites may require complex adaptations to survive in a host environment. D is also incorrect as most parasites do not kill their host quickly.

Parasitism Is One of the Most Widespread Lifestyles Ever to Evolve