- facultative parasite
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a parasite which can exist independently as well as being parasitic. Compare obligate parasite
Dictionary of ichthyology. 2009.
facultative parasite
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facultative parasite — noun (biology) A parasite able to live on dead or decaying organic matter as well as on its living host (cf ↑obligate parasite under ↑oblige) • • • Main Entry: ↑faculty … Useful english dictionary
facultative parasite — 1. A parasitic organism that can develop inside a host, but still retains the ability to complete a freeliving life cycle in the outside environment. 2. Organisms normally free living that may become parasitic under special environmental… … Dictionary of invertebrate zoology
facultative parasite — an organism that may be parasitic upon another but is also capable of independent existence … Medical dictionary
Facultative — Fac ul*ta*tive, a. [L. facultas, atis, faculty: cf. F. facultatif, G. fakultativ.] 1. Having relation to the grant or exercise faculty, or authority, privilege, license, or the like hence, optional; as, facultative enactments, or those which… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
facultative — Able to live under more than one specific set of environmental conditions; possessing an alternative pathway. * * * fac·ul·ta·tive fak əl .tāt iv adj 1) taking place under some conditions but not under others <facultative parasitism> 2)… … Medical dictionary
facultative — adj. describing an organism that is not restricted to one way of life. A facultative parasite can live either as a parasite or, in different conditions, as a nonparasite able to survive without a host. Compare: obligate … The new mediacal dictionary
facultative — [ fak(ə)lˌtətɪv] adjective 1》 occurring optionally in response to circumstances rather than by nature. 2》 Biology capable of but not restricted to a particular function or mode of life: a facultative parasite. Derivatives facultatively adverb… … English new terms dictionary
facultative — [fak′əl tāt΄iv] adj. [Fr facultatif < L facultas: see FACULTY] 1. a) granting a faculty, or permission; permissive b) optional 2. that may or may not happen or be; contingent 3. having to do with a faculty or faculties … English World dictionary
Parasite — An organism that lives in or on and takes its nourishment from another organism. A parasite cannot live independently. Parasitic diseases include infections by protozoa, helminths, and arthropods: {{}}Protozoa Malaria is caused by plasmodium, a… … Medical dictionary
Obligate parasite — An obligate parasite is a parasitic organism that cannot complete its life cycle without dependence on its host. References Serge, Morand. et al. (1996). Body size evolution of oxyurid (Nematoda) parasites: the role of hosts . Oecologia 107 (2):… … Wikipedia
