Parasite-Host Associations Coexistence or Conflict?

by Toft, Catherine A.; Aeschlimann, André; Bolis, Liana

• ISBN13: 9780198546481
• ISBN10: 0198546483
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1991-10-10
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Parasitic relationships are among the most common yet complex associations found in nature. This book makes an important contribution toward integrating parasitology into the mainstream of ecological and evolutionary studies. It delves into a number of key questions: To what extent are parasite-host interactions an escalating evolutionary conflict and, conversely, to what extent has evolution modified this process to facilitate co-existence? The first section of the book deals with whole organisms and populations, since the effects of parasitism are dependent on the densities and distributions of hosts and parasites. The next section considers special cases, such as herbivores and plants. The third part is devoted to physiological and immunological aspects, and the book concludes with an overview from the perspectives of ecology, evolution, and physiology. The work will interest ecologists, evolutionary biologists, parasitologists, entomologists, and epidemiologists.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Is Parasitism Symbiosis?

Behavioral Ecology: The Impact of Parasitism

Evolution of Host Specificity in Parasites with Complex Life Cycles

Coevolution of Macroparasites and Their Hosts

Dynamics and Genetics of Host-Parasite Associations

Encapsulation and Host-Parasitoid Population Biology

Ticks and Disease: Susceptible Hosts, Reservoir Hosts, and Vectors

Herbivores, Plant Parasites, and Plant Diversity

Immunological Relationships Between Host and Ixodid Ticks

Interactions Between Cestodes and Their Vertebrate Hosts

Nutritional Interactions Between Hosts and Parasites

Metabolic Deficiencies in Parasites and Their Relations to Host Metabolism

Developmental Adaptations in Nematodes

Invertebrate Host Immune Mechanisms and Parasite Escapes

An Ecological Perspective: The Population and Community Consequences of Parasitism

An Evolutionary Perspective: Using the Comparative Method

A Physiological Perspective: Physiological Adaptations in Host-Parasite Systems

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