Parasite Ecology 2 Flashcards
Q: What is community ecology in parasitology?
A: It studies biodiversity in parasite communities, focusing on patterns, processes, and interactions among parasites within host individuals or populations.
Q: Define infracommunity in parasite community ecology.
A: An infracommunity is the collection of all parasite infrapopulations in a single host individual.
Q: What is a component community in parasitology?
A: It includes all parasite species found in a population of hosts within a specific area.
Q: What is species richness in a parasite community?
A: Species richness is the number of parasite species within a host or host population, influenced by the host’s phylogeny and ecology.
Q: How do “heirloom” and “souvenir” parasites differ?
A: Heirloom parasites are inherited from ancestors, while souvenir parasites are acquired from other host species.
Q: How does co-infection impact parasite interactions within a host?
A: Co-infections can alter immune responses, support or suppress other parasites, and can have context-dependent interactions.
Q: What are the main types of interspecific competition in parasite communities?
A: Exploitative, interference, and apparent competition, which affect parasite success and host health.
Q: Give an example of selective site segregation in parasite competition.
A: Hymenolepis diminuta and Moniliformis dubius in rats exhibit site segregation, where each parasite occupies different parts of the intestine to reduce overlap.
Q: How can co-infections influence disease progression?
A: Co-infections, like HIV with helminths, can modulate immune responses, either facilitating or inhibiting disease progression.
Q: How do parasites impact host population sizes in ecosystems?
A: Parasites can regulate host populations, alter competitive interactions, and affect predation, influencing overall biodiversity and ecosystem structure.
Q: Describe how parasites contribute to food web complexity.
A: Parasites increase the number of links and interactions in food webs, enhancing stability and influencing energy flow.
Q: Why are parasites considered important to ecosystem energy flow?
A: In some ecosystems, parasite biomass can exceed that of predators, challenging traditional views that overlook their ecological impact.
Q: What is a keystone species, and how can parasites serve this role?
A: Keystone species significantly shape ecosystems; certain parasites, like Microphallus spp., limit host populations, indirectly affecting community structure.
Q: How does Microphallus spp. act as a keystone species in freshwater ecosystems?
A: By infecting algae-grazing snails, Microphallus reduces grazing, increasing algae growth and altering food and habitat availability for other species.
