Mistletoe is a plant species that spreads when bird droppings containing its seeds land on tree branches. After a seed sprouts, the mistletoe plant penetrates the tissues of the tree using its haustorium, a structure that draws water and nutrients into the plant. Mistletoe plants also produce large bunches of evergreen leaves that use light to photosynthesize nutrients. These leaves can block light from reaching the leaves of the tree the mistletoe inhabits. Some trees that become filled with mistletoe are susceptible to death from a lack of nutrients.

Which terms best classify the interactions between mistletoe and the tree it inhabits?

A. predation and parasitism
B. parasitism and competition
C. mutualism and cooperation
D. competition and predation