A bird is infested with the bloodsucking larvae of blowflies.The blowfly larvae fall off the bird and are themselves infested with parasitic wasps.The wasps contain a parasitic bacterium, which in turn is infested with bacteriophages, or parasitic viruses.This multitiered system could be considered evidence for
A) the importance of birds as parasite hosts.
B) the importance of bacteria and viruses as disease agents.
C) microparasites controlling populations of macroparasites.
D) macroparasites controlling populations of microparasites.
E) specialization resulting in the large number of parasite species.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This multitiered parasitic relationship illustrates specialization among parasites, leading to a diversity of species each adapted to a specific host or niche within the ecosystem.

A Bird Is Infested with the Bloodsucking Larvae of Blowflies