Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Parasite diversity: an overlooked metric of parasite pressures? |
| Authors: |
Bordes, F.1, Morand, S.1,2 morand@isem.univ-montp2.fr |
| Source: |
Oikos. Jun2009, Vol. 118 Issue 6, p801-806. 6p. 1 Chart. |
| Subjects: |
Parasites, Biodiversity, Hypothesis, Hosts (Biology), Ecology, Estimation theory, Statistical correlation, Pests, Biology |
| Abstract: |
The article discusses the hypothesis that parasite diversity exerts a strong selective pressure on hosts. The inherent problems concerning the estimation of this metric of parasite pressures is also discussed. Several directions on the effects of parasitic pressures in natural systems are also proposed. It is stated that one of the criticism of the host-single parasite approach is due to the lack of understanding of the complexity of the parasite impacts in natural systems. Parasite diversity is stated to possibly play a role even in the field of behavioral ecology. It concludes that an inherent difficulty in producing interpretations about hosts and their parasite diversity is that many studies establishing a potential impact are correlative. |
| Database: |
Engineering Source |
