Answer :

Parasitism between a mesquite tree and mistletoe benefits the mistletoe by providing it with water, nutrients, and a favorable position for sunlight exposure. The mesquite tree, however, suffers as it has to share its resources, leading to potential reduced growth and vigor.

The student asked: 'What are the advantages when a mesquite tree and mistletoe are parasitic?'

Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. In the case of a mesquite tree and mistletoe, the advantages are predominantly for the mistletoe. The mistletoe benefits by extracting water and nutrients directly from the mesquite tree, which allows it to survive and reproduce without the need for extensive root systems or the ability to photosynthesize fully.

Some potential advantages of this parasitic relationship for the mistletoe include:

  1. Access to Resources: Mistletoe gets continuous access to water and nutrients from the mesquite tree, helping it survive in arid environments where resources are scarce.
  2. Reduced Energy Expenditure: Since mistletoe relies on the mesquite tree for sustenance, it can allocate its energy towards reproduction and growth rather than nutrient acquisition.
  3. Strategic Positioning: By living on a host, mistletoe is positioned high in the canopy, increasing its exposure to sunlight which is crucial for its photosynthetic processes.

For the mesquite tree, the relationship is typically disadvantageous because the tree has to compete with the mistletoe for its own resources, which may lead to reduced vigor and slower growth.

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Rewritten by : Jeany