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Obligate parasites are those organisms which
  • a)
    obtain nutrition from dead, decaying organic matter only
  • b)
    obtain nutrition from living organism only
  • c)
    are essentially saporphytes but can also become parasites
  • d)
    are essentially parasites but can also become saprophytes
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Obligate parasites are those organisms whicha)obtain nutrition from de...
Parasitism is a relationship between two living organisms of different species in which one organism called parasite obtains its food directly from another living organism called host. The parasite is usually smaller as compared to its host. It spends a part or whole of its life on or in the body of the host. Obligate parasites obtain their nutrition from living organisms only.
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Most Upvoted Answer
Obligate parasites are those organisms whicha)obtain nutrition from de...
Explanation:

Obligate parasites are organisms that rely completely on living organisms for their nutrition. They cannot survive or obtain nutrients from dead or decaying organic matter. This makes option B the correct answer.

Elaboration:

Definition of Obligate parasites:
Obligate parasites are organisms that have evolved to depend entirely on a living host organism for their survival and nutrition. They are unable to survive independently or obtain nutrients from non-living sources.

Characteristics of Obligate parasites:
1. Dependency on host: Obligate parasites require a host organism to complete their life cycle and obtain nutrients for their growth and reproduction.
2. Specificity: They are often highly specialized and have evolved to infect specific host species or even specific tissues and organs within a host.
3. Lack of independence: Obligate parasites have lost the ability to live freely outside of a host. They have adapted to rely on the host for their survival and reproduction.
4. Feeding strategies: Obligate parasites use various strategies to obtain nutrients from the host. These can include direct absorption of host tissues, feeding on host fluids, or even hijacking the host's metabolic processes.

Difference from saprophytes:
Saprophytes, on the other hand, obtain their nutrition from dead or decaying organic matter. They play a crucial role in the decomposition of organic material and recycling of nutrients in ecosystems. While some organisms can switch between being saprophytic and parasitic depending on the availability of resources, obligate parasites are specifically adapted to rely on living hosts for their nutrition.

Examples of Obligate parasites:
1. Malaria parasite (Plasmodium): The malaria parasite is an obligate parasite that requires the Anopheles mosquito as a host for part of its life cycle and humans as a host for another part.
2. Tapeworms: Tapeworms are parasitic flatworms that live in the intestines of vertebrates. They rely on their host for nutrients and reproduction.
3. Head lice: Head lice are obligate parasites that infest the scalps of humans. They feed on blood and cannot survive outside of a human host.

In conclusion:
Obligate parasites are organisms that rely entirely on living organisms for their survival and nutrition. They cannot obtain nutrients from dead or decaying organic matter. This distinguishes them from saprophytes, which obtain their nutrition from non-living sources.
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Obligate parasites are those organisms whicha)obtain nutrition from dead, decaying organic matter onlyb)obtain nutrition from living organism onlyc)are essentially saporphytes but can also become parasitesd)are essentially parasites but can also become saprophytesCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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