Parasite‐mediated changes in host traits alter food web dynamics
Klemme, I., Perälä, T., Lehtinen, S. O., & Kuparinen, A. (2024). Parasite‐mediated changes in host traits alter food web dynamics. Oikos, Early View. https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.10374
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OikosDate
2024Discipline
Akvaattiset tieteetNanoscience CenterResurssiviisausyhteisöAquatic SciencesNanoscience CenterSchool of Resource WisdomCopyright
© 2024 the Authors
Parasites commonly alter the phenotype of their hosts, thereby influencing competitive and consumer–resource interactions. This could trigger a cascade effect on the dynamics of biological communities, but the role of parasites in ecosystem processes is poorly understood. In this study, we investigate how parasite-induced trait modifications shape the dynamics of a complex lake food web using an allometric trophic network model (ATN). We simulated infections of stage-structured fish host populations via increased maintenance costs and predation risk. Our results show that host trait modifications can significantly impact host demography, with stage-specific biomass declines up to 60%. However, less severely affected host stages buffered these effects and sustained the population. Importantly, host biomass decline altered the dynamics of species interactions and these effects cascaded through the entire community, with biomass changes observed at all trophic levels. Our findings emphasize the importance of incorporating both indirect parasite effects and host life history in ecological network studies for more realistic simulations of community dynamics.
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Wiley-BlackwellISSN Search the Publication Forum
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https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/202804756
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European Commission; Research Council of FinlandFunding program(s)
Postdoctoral Researcher, AoF
The content of the publication reflects only the author’s view. The funder is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
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