CAN PARASITES BE ANIMAL LIKE PROTISTS AND FUNGI??
PLEASE HELP
I AM SOOO CONFUSED WITH THIS???
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761551534/fungus.html
The above will answer the question about fungi but you will need to scroll down about half way, anyway.
http://www.biologycorner.com/bio1/parasitic-protists.html
Yes, parasites can include animal-like protists and fungi. To understand this concept, let's break it down step by step.
1. Understanding Parasites:
Parasites are organisms that live in or on another organism (called the host) and obtain nutrients and shelter from the host while possibly causing harm. They rely on the host for their survival and reproduction.
2. Animal-like Protists:
Protists are a diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms. Some protists have animal-like characteristics and are often referred to as protozoa. Certain protozoans can behave as parasites, living in or on a host organism to obtain nutrients. Examples of animal-like protist parasites include Plasmodium spp. (causing malaria) and Trypanosoma spp. (causing sleeping sickness or Chagas disease).
3. Fungi:
Fungi are another group of eukaryotic organisms. While most fungi are free-living and obtain nutrients from decaying organic matter, there are also parasitic fungi. These fungi infect various hosts like plants, animals, and even other fungi. Some common examples include Candida spp. (causing infections in humans) and Rust fungi (affecting plants).
In summary, parasites encompass a wide range of organisms, including animal-like protists and certain fungi. These organisms live within or on a host, deriving nutrients and causing harm in the process.