Resetting our expectations for parasites and their effects on species interactions: a meta‐analysis

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 26(1), P. 184 - 199

Published: Nov. 6, 2022

Abstract Despite the ubiquitous nature of parasitism, how parasitism alters outcome host–species interactions such as competition, mutualism and predation remains unknown. Using a phylogenetically informed meta‐analysis 154 studies, we examined mean variance in outcomes species differed between parasitized non‐parasitized hosts. Overall, did not significantly affect or interaction outcomes, nor shared evolutionary histories hosts parasites have an effect. Instead, there was considerable variation ranging from strongly detrimental to beneficial for infected Trophically‐transmitted increased negative effects predation, decreased interspecific competition heterospecifics, respectively, had particularly strong on host freshwater marine habitats, yet were terrestrial environments. Our results illuminate diverse ways which modify critical linkages ecological networks, implying that whether cumulative are considered depends only their but also many other experience.

Language: Английский

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Effects of thermal fluctuations on biological processes: a meta-analysis of experiments manipulating thermal variability

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 290(1992)

Published: Feb. 8, 2023

Thermal variability is a key driver of ecological processes, affecting organisms and populations across multiple temporal scales. Despite the ubiquity variation, biologists lack quantitative synthesis observed consequences thermal wide range taxa, phenotypic traits experimental designs. Here, we conduct meta-analysis to investigate how properties organisms, their experienced regime whether in either past (prior an assay) or present (during affect performance relative experiencing constant environments. Our results—which draw upon 1712 effect sizes from 75 studies—indicate that effects are not unidirectional become more negative as mean temperature fluctuation increase. Exposure variation decreases greater extent than increases costs diminishing benefits broad set empirical studies. Further, identify life-history attributes predictably modify response variation. findings demonstrate on context-dependent, yet outcomes may be heightened warmer, variable climates.

Language: Английский

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A meta‐analysis of how parasites affect host consumption rates

Oikos, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2023(8)

Published: May 25, 2023

Parasites are known to mediate trophic interactions and can, for example, modify how consumers acquire resources. These modifications of host feeding behaviour can be imposed through three interconnected mechanisms affecting: 1) food acquisition, 2) digestion or 3) energy budgets. As a result, infected hosts may consume more, less the same amount compared their uninfected conspecifics. It is commonly assumed that have lower consumption rates than hosts, but comprehensive quantitative synthesis investigating effects parasites on rate has been lacking thus far. To fill this knowledge gap, we systematically searched experimental studies evaluated changes in vs hosts. In total, extracted 158 effect sizes from 68 studies. We then performed meta‐analyses mean differences variation. The analyses were carried out all taxonomic groups as well separately vertebrate invertebrate main‐effects confirmed generally negative rates; consumed average 25% addition, there was significant increase variability rate, by 25%, indicating variable foraging meta‐regression models revealed several moderator variables related parasite characteristics influence rate. Experimental infection had stronger variance natural infection. Parasitic infections reduced 28% more strongly those invertebrates, which 22%. conclude with recommendations facilitate future ecological research syntheses host–parasite beyond.

Language: Английский

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Manipulation of soil mycorrhizal fungi influences floral traits

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 242(2), P. 675 - 686

Published: Feb. 25, 2024

Most plants form root hyphal relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, especially arbuscular fungi (AMF). These associations are known to positively impact plant biomass and competitive ability. However, less is about how mycorrhizas other ecological interactions, such as those mediated by pollinators. We performed a meta-regression of studies that manipulated AMF measured traits related pollination, including floral display size, rewards, visitation, reproduction, extracting 63 423 effects. On average, the presence was associated positive effects on traits. Specifically, we found impacts pollinator visitation but nonsignificant rewards. Studies manipulating fungicide tended report contrasting results, possibly because destroys both beneficial pathogenic microbes. Our study highlights potential for play an important, yet underrecognized role in plant-pollinator interactions. With heightened awareness need more sustainable agricultural industry, may offer opportunity reduce reliance inorganic fertilizers. At same time, fungicides now ubiquitous systems. demonstrates indirect ways which plant-belowground fungal partnerships could manifest

Language: Английский

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Pre‐ and postinfection priority effects have contrasting outcomes for parasite prevalence in host populations

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Abstract Parasite species frequently co‐occur more or less than expected by chance. These nonrandom co‐occurrence patterns can be driven pre‐ postinfection priority effects: parasites are likely to attempt infection in a host already infected another parasite may have higher lower establishment and survival hosts species. How these two types of effects differentially affect distributions at the population level remains unexplored. Using probabilistic state transition diagram parameterized with field data analyzed simulation methods, I show that lead contrasting outcomes level. As preinfection from facilitation inhibition, uninfected decrease up 39%, both 84%, concomitant increases single infections either In contrast, as proportion unchanged, but decreases 89%, singly first‐arriving parasite. Interactions between within‐host specific nature those interactions alter

Language: Английский

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Parasitism as a driver of host diversification

Published: April 23, 2025

Language: Английский

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Definitions of parasitism, considering its potentially opposing effects at different levels of hierarchical organization

Parasitology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 150(9), P. 761 - 768

Published: July 3, 2023

Abstract An annotated synthesis of textbook definitions parasitism is presented. Most declare a long-lasting relationship between individuals different species harming the hosts. The infection-induced costs are interpreted as diseases in medical-veterinary literature. Alternatively, evolutionary ecologists interpret it reduction host's fitness (longevity, fertility or both). Authors often assume that such effects decrease host population growth and select for antiparasitic defences, which not necessarily true because infections may simultaneously express opposite at levels biological organization. (i) At cellular level, cell growth, longevity multiplication yield tumours maladaptive higher levels. (ii) individual reduced longevity, both disease symptoms fitness. (iii) Contrary to common sense, rate infected lineages increase parallel with individuals' survival fertility. This selection favours only production more offspring but also their faster production. (iv) Finally, reduce lineages' still populations' context ecological competition. Therefore, differences mutualism depend on level organization one focuses on.

Language: Английский

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Seasonal dynamics of Amblyomma ticks in South America: a meta-analytical approach

Acta Tropica, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 107552 - 107552

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Interspecific host competition and parasite virulence evolution

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 19(5)

Published: May 1, 2023

Virulence, the harm to hosts caused by parasite infection, can be selected for several ecological factors acting synergistically or antagonistically. Here, we focus on potential interspecific host competition shape virulence through such a network of effects. We first summarize how natural mortality, body mass changes, population density and community diversity affect evolution. then introduce an initial conceptual framework highlighting these factors, which change during competition, may drive evolution via impacts life-history trade-offs. argue that multi-faceted nature both still requires consideration experimentation disentangle contrasting mechanisms. It also necessitates differential treatment parasites with various transmission strategies. However, comprehensive approach focusing role is essential understand processes driving in tangled bank.

Language: Английский

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Chemical ecology of plankton parasitism in algae

Botanica Marina, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 67(3), P. 211 - 229

Published: April 29, 2024

Abstract Plankton parasites such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and unicellular eukaryotes are associated symbionts colonizing algal groups in aquatic ecosystems. They occur within a network of microbe–microbe interactions which they parasitize phytoplankton seaweeds, i.e., primary producers generating organic carbon forming the basis marine food webs. These use algae source nutrients reproduce at expense their host, causing infectious symptoms leading to disease death. can reduce populations, infection one specific species may, turn, favor development another, influencing seasonal succession blooms oceans, seas, lakes. Many have free-living stages that zooplankton graze upon, representing significant trophic link The biology life cycle plankton well investigated freshwater hosts. Still, chemical signaling mediating these microbial effect co-occurring remain underexplored. This review focuses on diversity infecting algae, with particular emphasis eukaryotes. ecological role parasites, mechanisms regulating cellular host resistance, interplay alga-parasite coexisting microorganisms discussed.

Language: Английский

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