How Many Parasites Species a Frog Might Have? Determinants of Parasite Diversity in South American Anurans.

ABSTRACT: There is an increasing interest in unveiling the dynamics of parasite infection. Understanding the interaction patterns, and determinants of host-parasite association contributes to filling knowledge gaps in both community and disease ecology. Despite being targeted as a relevant group for conservation efforts, determinants of the association of amphibians and their parasites in broad scales are poorly understood. Here we describe parasite biodiversity in South American amphibians, testing the influence of host body size and geographic range in helminth parasites species richness (PSR). We also test whether parasite diversity is related to hosts' phylogenetic diversity. Results showed that nematodes are the most common anuran parasites. Host-parasite network has a nested pattern, with spec

SUBMITTER: Campiao KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4608826 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature