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EVOLUTION AND POPULATION ECOLOGY OF PARASITE–HOST SYSTEMS1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

David Pimentel
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology and Limnology, New York State College of Agriculture, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Frederick A. Stone
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology and Limnology, New York State College of Agriculture, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Abstract

The ecology and evolution of the parasite (Nasonia vitripennis Walker) and host (Musca domestica L.) were investigated in a specially designed multicelled population cage which provided ample space–time structure to the environment for free parasite–host interactions. The population characteristics exhibited by a control or newly associated parasite–host system were compared with an experimental parasite–host system which already had evolved a degree of ecological homeostasis. Population fluctuations in the experimental parasite population were dampened compared with the control parasite population which fluctuated with great intensity; and in addition, the mean number of parasites in the experimental systems was significantly lower (about 1/4) than the mean number of parasites in the control system.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1968

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