Question

Which among the following is a good example of co-evolution of host and the parasite?

• A. Interaction between phytophagous insects and plants
• B. Interaction between prickly pear cactus and cactus feeding moth
• C. The eggs of the cuckoo bird evolved to resemble a crow's egg in size and colour
• D. Tiger feeding on deer

Answer 1

The correct option is C The eggs of the cuckoo bird evolved to resemble a crow's egg in size and colour

Parasitism is the relationship between organisms where one organism (parasite) lives and derives nutrition from another specific organism (host).
Every parasite is host specific i.e they can parasitise only a single species of host. The parasite cannot complete its life cycle without its host. So, both the parasite and its host tend to co-evolve. If the host evolves special mechanisms for rejecting or resisting the parasite, the parasite also has to evolve mechanisms to counteract and neutralize these mechanisms such that it can successfully parasitise the same host species.

Brood parasitism is a type of parasitism in which the parasitic bird lays its eggs in the nest of another bird (host) and lets the host incubate them. The eggs of the parasitic bird have evolved such that they are similar in size and colour to the host’s egg. This reduces the chances of detection and ejection of the foreign eggs by the host bird. Eg: The cuckoo bird (parasite) lays it's eggs in the nest of the crow (host).

Predation is a type of population interaction where one species is benefited and the other is harmed. For example,

• Phytophagous (plant eating) insects feed on the plant sap and other plant parts.
• The cactus feeding moth is a predator of the prickly pear cactus.
• Tiger feeding on deer