Q.Distinguish between the following: Parasitism and Mutualism.

Step 1. Parasitism: an interaction in which the parasite gains benefit -- typically nutrition or shelter -- from the host, while the host is harmed, its survival, growth or reproduction reduced, sometimes leading to death (e.g., lice on humans, or brood parasitism by the koel on the crow). Step 2. Mutualism: an interaction that is obligatory and interdependent, benefiting BOTH species involved -- neither partner is harmed (e.g., lichens, in which the fungus and the alga/cyanobacterium both gain from the partnership, or a flowering plant and its pollinator). **S …

• Overlooking that both being "close, dependent relationships" does not make them the same -- the deciding factor is whether the second p …