Functional traits shape small mammal-helminth network: patterns and processes in species interactions.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the role of species traits in mediating ecological interactions and shaping community structure is a key question in ecology. In this sense, parasite population parameters allow us to estimate the functional importance of traits in shaping the strength of interactions among hosts and parasites in a network. The aim of this study was to survey and analyse the small mammal-helminth network in a forest reserve of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest in order to understand (i) how functional traits (type of parasite life cycle, site of infection in their host, host and parasite body length, host diet, host locomotor habit and host activity period) and abundance influence host–parasite interactions, (ii) whether these traits explain species roles, and (iii) if this relationship is consis

SUBMITTER: Cardoso TDS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8193565 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature