Host-mediated effects on the reproductive phenological asynchrony of a generalist mistletoe in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manru Li ◽  
Jin Chen ◽  
Ling Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Southwest China ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Reproductive Phenology ◽  
Ecological Significance ◽  
Flowering Date ◽  
Mediated Effects ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Alternative Hypotheses ◽  
First Flowering Date

Abstract Aims Host-mediated effects on hemiparasitic mistletoes were hypothesized to contribute to mistletoes reproductive phenological asynchrony, thus providing a longer period of food supply to its mutualistic pollinators and dispersers. However, studies with empirical data interrogating this hypothesis are lacking. Methods Weekly monitoring of flowering and fruiting patterns on a generalist mistletoe Dendrophthoe pentandra (Loranthaceae) was conducted for two consecutive years in tropical Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. We examined whether flowering and fruiting patterns were seasonal, quantified the degree of stagger within D. pentandra populations, and determined the factors influencing the first flowering date of D. pentandra. Furthermore, the effect of change in the number of host species on reproductive phenological asynchrony of mistletoe was examined. Important Findings We found that (i) both flowering and fruiting exhibited unimodal peaks in the two consecutive years of the study; (ii) the first flowering date was significantly influenced by crown area of mistletoe and light, such that clump with larger crown and more light exposure had an earlier first flowering date and longer flowering and fruiting durations; (iii) different host species had a significant impact on the phenology of mistletoes. However, contrary to our hypothesis, the number of host species did not significantly change the asynchrony of reproductive phenology of mistletoe. Therefore, these results suggest that alternative hypotheses are needed to interpret the ecological significance of the number of host species and phenological asynchrony of generalist mistletoes.

Host species influence on flea (Siphonaptera) infection parameters of terrestrial micromammals in a temperate forest of Mexico

Parasitology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 670-677
Author(s):  
Fernando Aguilar Montiel ◽  
Arturo Estrada-Torres ◽  
Roxana Acosta ◽  
Miguel Rubio-Godoy ◽  
Jorge Vázquez
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Temperate Forest ◽  
Flea Species ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
La Malinche ◽  
Infection Parameters ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
La Malinche National Park ◽  
Abundance And Distribution

AbstractStudies of abundance and distribution of organisms are fundamental to ecology. The identity of host species is known to be one of the major factors influencing ectoparasitic flea abundance, but explanations are still needed regarding how host taxa influence abundance parameters of different flea species. This study was carried out at La Malinche National Park (LMNP), Tlaxcala, Mexico, where previously 11 flea species had been recorded on 8 host species. Our aims were to list micromammal flea species, to determine flea infection parameters [flea prevalence (FP) and flea mean abundance (FMA)] and to analyse the influence of host species on these parameters. A total of 16 species of fleas were identified from 1178 fleas collected from 14 species of 1274 micromammals captured with Sherman®traps from March 2014 to December 2015 in 18 sites at LMNP. Some host species influence FP and FMA, in particular,Microtus mexicanusandPeromyscus melanotisshowed particularly higher infection values than other host species.Plusaetis aztecusandPlusaetis sibynuswere identified as the most abundant flea species.

Tapeworm discovery in elasmobranch fishes: quantifying patterns and identifying their correlates

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haseeb S. Randhawa ◽  
Robert Poulin
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
Mixed Effects Models ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects Models ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Elasmobranch Species ◽  
Elasmobranch Fishes ◽  
Latitudinal Range

Most parasites from known host species are yet to be discovered and described, let alone those from host species not yet known to science. Here, we use tapeworms of elasmobranchs to identify factors influencing their discovery and explaining the time lag between the descriptions of elasmobranch hosts and their respective tapeworm parasites. The dataset included 918 tapeworm species from 290 elasmobranch species. Data were analysed using linear mixed-effects models. Our findings indicated that we are currently in the midst of the greatest rate of discovery for tapeworms exploiting elasmobranchs. We identified tapeworm size, year of discovery of the type host, host latitudinal range and type locality of the parasite influencing most on the probability of discovery of tapeworms from elasmobranchs and the average time lag between descriptions of elasmobranchs and their tapeworms. The time lag between descriptions is decreasing progressively, but, at current rates and number of taxonomic experts, it will take two centuries to clear the backlog of undescribed tapeworms from known elasmobranch species. Given that the number of new elasmobranch species described each year is on the rise, we need to re-assess funding strategies to save elasmobranchs (and, thus, their tapeworm parasites) before they go extinct.

Relationships Between First Flowering Date and Temperature in the Flora of a Locality in Central England

1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. Fitter ◽  
R. S. R. Fitter ◽  
I. T. B. Harris ◽  
M. H. Williamson
Keyword(s):  
Flowering Date ◽  
First Flowering Date

scholarly journals Parasites that change predator or prey behaviour can have keystone effects on community composition

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 20130879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie J. Hatcher ◽  
Jaimie T. A. Dick ◽  
Alison M. Dunn
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Mathematical Models ◽  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Intraguild Predation ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Indirect Interactions ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Mediated Effects ◽  
Population Interactions

Parasites play pivotal roles in structuring communities, often via indirect interactions with non-host species. These effects can be density-mediated (through mortality) or trait-mediated (behavioural, physiological and developmental), and may be crucial to population interactions, including biological invasions. For instance, parasitism can alter intraguild predation (IGP) between native and invasive crustaceans, reversing invasion outcomes. Here, we use mathematical models to examine how parasite-induced trait changes influence the population dynamics of hosts that interact via IGP. We show that trait-mediated indirect interactions impart keystone effects, promoting or inhibiting host coexistence. Parasites can thus have strong ecological impacts, even if they have negligible virulence, underscoring the need to consider trait-mediated effects when predicting effects of parasites on community structure in general and biological invasions in particular.

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