The association between two organisms in which one of the organisms gains and the other loses is referred to as

The association between two organisms in which one of the organisms gains while the other loses is referred to as parasitism. In parasitism, the organism that benefits is called the parasite, while the other organism, which is harmed, is called the host. The parasite gains some form of benefit from the host, such as food, shelter, or nutrients, while the host is often weakened or damaged by the relationship. This can lead to negative effects on the host's health, survival, or reproductive success. Parasitism is different from other types of symbiotic relationships like mutualism, commensalism, and saprophytism because in those relationships, both organisms benefit or at least one organism is not harmed. In parasitism, however, one organism benefits at the expense of the other.