In Article <Pine.HPP.3.91.950215085005.14853A-100000 at ac852.wfunet.wfu.edu>
keasbe9 at WFU.EDU ("Brian E. Keas") writes:
>On 10 Feb 1995, derek a. zelmer wrote:
>>> Due to recent (sometimes violent) discussions I have been involved in, I
>> would like to get some opinions on a question of basic philosophy...what
>> is a parasite?
>Other resonses to this post have suggested that there are no
>all-encompassing definitions of a parasite. I for one am a little uneasy
>with that suggestion (after all, how can anyone say they study parasites
>if they can't even define what a parasite is).
I've never had any problem with the operational definition of
parasitisim as an obligate relationship where one organism is metabolically
dependent on another. However, I have had problems operationalizing
the fine-line distinction between commensalism and parasitism. It seems
that those using parasite always equate it with harm to the host. Is this
necessarily true? Just wondering.
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* Charles T. Faulkner * When you don't know where you're
* Univ of Tennessee, Knoxville * going any road will take you there.
* (ctfaulkn at utkvx.utk.edu) * Alice
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