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Related Concept Videos

Frequency-dependent Selection01:21

Frequency-dependent Selection

When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.Positive Frequency-Dependent SelectionIn positive...
Microbial Interactions: Parasitism01:22

Microbial Interactions: Parasitism

Parasitism is a form of microbial interaction in which parasitic microbes exploit a host organism for nutrients and shelter, often at the host's expense. Unlike mutualistic relationships, where both organisms benefit, parasitism benefits only the parasite and harms the host.Classification of ParasitesMicrobial parasites are broadly classified based on their location relative to the host.Ectoparasites remain on the host’s surface, such as the skin or outer tissues, drawing nutrients...
Types of Selection01:46

Types of Selection

Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
What is Natural Selection?01:32

What is Natural Selection?

Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.The Theory of Natural...
Malaria01:29

Malaria

Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...

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Environment can alter selection in host-parasite interactions.

Justyna Wolinska1, Kayla C King

  • 1Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Department Biologie II, Evolutionsökologie, Grosshaderner Str. 2, D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany. wolinska@bio.lmu.de

Trends in Parasitology
|April 10, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Environmental fluctuations significantly impact host-parasite coevolution dynamics. Future research should integrate these environmental variations into experimental and theoretical models for a more accurate understanding of host-parasite interactions.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Ecology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Host-parasite interactions are shaped by the genetic basis of hosts and parasites, influencing coevolution.
  • Laboratory studies show environmental conditions affect selection strength and specificity in host-parasite systems.
  • Environmental factors differentially impact host-parasite fitness components.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the importance of environmental fluctuations in host-parasite coevolution.
  • To advocate for the inclusion of environmental variability in future coevolutionary research.
  • To address the common exclusion of environmental fluctuations as 'noise' in current models.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on host-parasite coevolution.
  • Analysis of laboratory-based infection studies.
  • Theoretical considerations of environmental influences on selection.

Main Results:

  • Environmental conditions substantially alter the strength and specificity of selection in host-parasite interactions.
  • Different fitness components of hosts and parasites are uniquely affected by the environment.
  • Environmental fluctuations are often oversimplified or ignored in current coevolutionary studies.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental fluctuations are a critical factor in host-parasite coevolution and should not be disregarded.
  • Future empirical and theoretical studies must incorporate fluctuating environments to accurately model host-parasite dynamics.
  • Understanding coevolution requires acknowledging the ecological context of host-parasite interactions.