What is an example of a parasitic relationship?

In the context of ecological relationships, a parasitic relationship is defined as one in which one organism benefits at the expense of another. In the case of tapeworms in animals, the tapeworm lives inside the host's intestines and absorbs nutrients that the host has consumed. This relationship is detrimental to the host as it can lead to malnutrition, illness, or even death, while the tapeworm thrives and reproduces within the host's body. This clear dependency characterizes the parasitic relationship, making it a distinct example of how one organism can exploit another for its own benefit.

In contrast, the other examples involve mutual or commensal relationships where both organisms benefit, or at least one does without harming the other. For instance, barnacles on whales benefit from being transported to various feeding areas, but the whale is not significantly harmed by their presence, indicating a commensal relationship. Similarly, bees pollinating flowers exemplify mutualism, where both bees and flowers benefit—bees receive nectar for food, while flowers achieve pollination for reproduction. Coral on a reef is part of a complex ecosystem functioning in symbiosis, but it doesn't exemplify parasitism. Thus, tapeworms in animals represent