Parasite transmission between trophic levels stabilizes predator-prey interaction.

ABSTRACT: Manipulative parasites that promote their transmission by altering their host's phenotype are widespread in nature, which suggests that host manipulation allows the permanent coexistence of the host with the parasite. However, the underlying mechanism by which host manipulation affects community stability remains unelucidated. Here, using a mathematical model, we show that host manipulation can stabilise community dynamics. We consider systems wherein parasites are transmitted between different trophic levels: intermediate host prey and final host predator. Without host manipulation, the non-manipulative parasite can destabilise an otherwise globally stable prey-predator system, causing population cycles. However, host manipulation can dampen such population cycles, particularly when the m

SUBMITTER: Rogawa A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6095923 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature