The timings of host diapause and epidemic progression mediate host genetic diversity and future epidemic size in Daphnia-parasite populations.

ABSTRACT: Epidemics commonly exert parasite-mediated selection and cause declines in host population genetic diversity. This can lead to evolution of resistance in the long term and smaller subsequent epidemics. Alternatively, the loss of genetic diversity can increase host vulnerability to future disease spread and larger future epidemics. Matters are made more complex by the fact that a great many host organisms produce diapausing life stages in response to environmental change (often as a result of sexual reproduction; e.g. plant seeds and invertebrate resting eggs). These diapausing stages can disrupt the relationship between past epidemics, host genetic diversity and future epidemics because they allow host dispersal through time. Specifically, temporally dispersing hosts avoid infection and th

SUBMITTER: Auld SKJR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10031403 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature