noun
- plural of heteroecism; the condition or practice of parasites or fungi requiring two different host species to complete their life cycle
Usage: biology; technical; also spelled heteroecism (singular)
Examples
- Many rust fungi exhibit heteroecisms, alternating between two unrelated plant hosts.
- The heteroecisms of certain parasites make them difficult to control in agricultural settings.
- Biologists study heteroecisms to understand complex life cycles in pathogenic organisms.
- Some insects demonstrate heteroecisms by requiring different host plants at different life stages.