Host phenology regulates parasite-host demographic cycles and eco-evolutionary feedbacks.

ABSTRACT: Parasite-host interactions can drive periodic population dynamics when parasites overexploit host populations. The timing of host seasonal activity, or host phenology, determines the frequency and demographic impact of parasite-host interactions, which may govern whether parasites sufficiently overexploit hosts to drive population cycles. We describe a mathematical model of a monocyclic, obligate-killer parasite system with seasonal host activity to investigate the consequences of host phenology on host-parasite dynamics. The results suggest that parasites can reach the densities necessary to destabilize host dynamics and drive cycling as they adapt, but only in some phenological scenarios such as environments with short seasons and synchronous host emergence. Furthermore, only parasite li

SUBMITTER: MacDonald H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8928868 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature