In the space below, discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of asexual and sexual reproduction. Compare and contrast individuals that are sexually and asexually reproduced. Use complete, meaningful sentences to explain the information you give as your answer.

The advantages of sexual reproduction:

produces genetic variation in the offspring

the species can adapt to new environments due to variation, which gives them a survival advantage

a disease is less likely to affect all the individuals in a population

In asexual reproduction there is only one parent. The offspring are clones of the parent and each other.

The advantages of asexual reproduction include:

the population can increase rapidly when the conditions are favourable

only one parent is needed

it is more time and energy efficient as you don't need a mate

it is faster than sexual reproduction

The disadvantages of sexual reproduction:

time and energy are needed to find a mate

it is not possible for an isolated individual to reproduce

The disadvantages of asexual reproduction include:

it does not lead to genetic variation in a population

the species may only be suited to one habitat

disease may affect all the individuals in a population

Explanation:

parasites can detrimentally affect their host, but also must not allow their host to die before they can complete their life cycle. some parasites have complex life cycles with many different hosts, and have had to find ways of persisting in many different environments during the change from one host to another. ectoparasites live outside the body of the host, and can more easily  disperse, but are  more exposed to predators, parasites, parasitoids. endoparasites live inside the body of the host, and are therefore protected from the outside environment. but they can be  attacked by the host's immune system. they have therefore developed  mechanisms for dispersal such as  complex life cycles.