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bio 315 lec 19
parasites and community ecology
16
Biology
Undergraduate 3
04/18/2009

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Term
what is community ecology?
Definition
focused on multiple species and explaining the coexistence and interactions
Term
predator vs. parasites comparison
Definition
preds- same size as prey, similar or slower rate of population increase as prey, tend to satiate

parasites- smaller than prey, faster rate of population increase, insatiable
Term
which 2 characteristics allow parasites to overcome predator and prey, alike.
Definition
faster rate of pop. increase, insatiable
Term
draw a traditional trophic cascade and then 2 ways to add a parasite to it.
Definition
pred--->herbivore--->plant

pred or parasite-->herbivore,plant

parasite-->predator-->herbivore, plant
Term
describe a real life example of a trophic cascade with parasites as predators
Definition
parasite can infect urchins and kill them off which makes kelp overgrow. redundancy with sea otter predator.
Term
what is the healthy herds hypothesis? if a community functions according to this hypothesis, hat happens if predators are reduced? why?
Definition
predators removing sick individuals keeps the population as a whole healthy. if predators reduced there is a spike in infecteds and an overall decrease in population number
Term
how did canine distemper arrive in wild lion populations? what kind of trophic cascade does the CDV situation in lions represent?
Definition
domestic dogs-->wild dogs-->lions eat domestic dogs. shows parasite as predator acting on another predator
Term
Describe the Anolis lizard example. what does this illustrate?
Definition
describes parasites increasing diversity. A.wattsi only survives were malaria infects A.gingivinus. can only compete with parasitized lizard. wattsi not found in areas where no malaria
Term
describe the red squirrel/grey squirrel in the UK example. what does this illustrate?
Definition
demonstrates parasites reducing diversity. parasite kills red squirrels but not the grey squirrel
Term
is a healthy ecosystem one that is rich in parasites? why or why not? what does this have to do with salt marshes, estuaries, and biomass?
Definition
yes, parasites drive biodiversity, shape population dynamics. individuals not healthy but whole ecosystem is healthy
Term
how can parasites have a positive effect on the ecosystem and a negative effect on the individual?
Definition
malaria has positive effect on ecosystem by allowing A.wattsi to survive and enhance lizard diversity, but on the individual level, A.gingivinus is not healthy bc it has malaria
Term
which species of parasites in the salt marshes were used as indicators of ecosystem health? what happened over time in the restored salt marshes.
Definition
trematodes. species richness improved in restored areas with trematodes
Term
what are some pros and cons of using trematodes as ecosystem health indicators?
Definition
pros- cheaper, easier to use than birds or fish

cons-not always good indicators, trematodes are poorly identified
Term
do parasites interact with each other? if so, what is an example?
Definition
yes, communities interact in the gut or they can compete with each other
Term
what was the relationship between worm prevalence and TB incidence in buffalo populations?
Definition
more worms means less TB incidence in buffalo
Term
why does antibiotic treatment upset patient guts? what is a potential solution?
Definition
antibiotic kills healthy gut microbes also so digestion is messed up.
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