Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Experiment Videos

Parasites and supernormal manipulation.

Ø H Holen1, G P Saetre, T Slagsvold

  • 1Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1050, Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|December 26, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Social parasites use exaggerated signals to exploit hosts, but signal intensity must remain below a threshold for evolutionary stability. This threshold is influenced by parasitism rates, with lower rates favoring supernormal manipulation.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Differential pathogenicity and lethality of bubonic plague (1720-1945) by sex, age and place.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2024
Same author

A genomic and historical synthesis of plague in 18th century Eurasia.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2020
Same author

Territory location and quality, together with climate, affect the timing of breeding in the white-throated dipper.

Scientific reports·2019
Same author

The effects of oil spills on marine fish: Implications of spatial variation in natural mortality.

Marine pollution bulletin·2017
Same author

Spatial ecology of coastal Atlantic cod Gadus morhua associated with parasite load.

Journal of fish biology·2015
Same author

Natal dispersal based on past and present environmental phenology in the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca).

Oecologia·2013
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Evolutionary Game Theory
  • Animal Communication

Background:

  • Social parasites exploit hosts by mimicking beneficial organisms.
  • Exaggerated signals may enhance host response, as seen in common cuckoo chicks.
  • Understanding the evolutionary stability of such mimicry is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the evolutionary stability of host manipulation via exaggerated signals using game theory.
  • To determine the conditions under which supernormal manipulation by social parasites is evolutionarily stable.
  • To explore the role of parasitism rate in the evolution of host-parasite signaling dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Game theory modeling was employed to analyze host-parasite interactions.
  • The model focused on signal intensity as a key variable in host acceptance or rejection.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Evolutionarily Stable Strategy (ESS) was used to predict stable signaling outcomes.

    • Main Results:

    • Parasite signal intensity must be below a specific threshold for host acceptance.
    • This threshold is directly dependent on the rate of parasitism.
    • Supernormal manipulation is evolutionarily stable only under low parasitism rates.

    Conclusions:

    • The evolutionarily stable strategy involves hosts accepting all signallers and parasites using optimal, sub-threshold signal intensity.
    • Rejector hosts can invade if ESS conditions are not met, using signal intensity as a cue.
    • Findings are discussed in relation to empirical evidence from brood parasitism and mimicry systems.