Microparasite dispersal in metapopulations: a boon or bane to the host population?

ABSTRACT: Although connectivity can promote host species persistence in a metapopulation, dispersal may also enable disease transmission, an effect further complicated by the impact that parasite distribution may have on host-parasite population dynamics. We investigated the effects of connectivity and initial parasite distribution (clustered or dispersed) on microparasite-host dynamics in experimental metapopulations, using guppies and Gyrodactylus turnbulli We created metapopulations of guppies divided into four subpopulations and introduced either a low level of parasites to all subpopulations (dispersed) or a high level of parasites to one subpopulation (clustered). Controlled migration among subpopulations occurred every 10 days. In additional trials, we introduced low or high levels of

SUBMITTER: Tadiri CP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6125888 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature