Ecology and Evolution of Parasitism

Hosts to Ecosystems

Edited by Frédéric Thomas, Jean-François Guégan, and François Renaud

The first book to provide a broad synthesis of both the roles and consequences of pathogens on the ecology and evolution of free living systems
Focuses on hosts rather than the parasites themselves
Integrates those aspects related to the ecology and the evolution of free-living species (sexual selection, behaviour, life history traits, regulation of populations etc.) with topics related to ecosystems and ecology of infectious diseases
Includes examples across a range of scales from individuals to populations, communities and ecosystems

Ecology and Evolution of Parasitism

Hosts to Ecosystems

Edited by Frédéric Thomas, Jean-François Guégan, and François Renaud

Description

Is it possible to omit parasites when studying free-living organisms? The answer is clearly no! Parasites have evolved independently in numerous animal lineages, and now make up a considerable proportion of the biodiversity of life. Ecologists, epidemiologists, conservationists and evolutionary biologists are increasingly aware of the universal significance of parasites to the study of ecology and evolution where they have become a powerful model system. This book provides a summary of the issues involved as well as an overview of the possibilities offered by this research topic including the practical applications for disease prevention. It uses well-documented case-studies across a range of scales to illustrate the main trends and prospects in this area, outlining areas for future research.

Ecology and Evolution of Parasitism is the first book to provide a broad synthesis of both the roles and consequences of pathogens on the ecology and evolution of free living systems. It focuses on hosts rather than the parasites themselves, integrating those aspects related to the ecology and the evolution of free-living species (sexual selection, behaviour, life history traits, regulation of populations etc.). The book includes examples across a range of scales from individuals to populations, communities and ecosystems.

Ecology and Evolution of Parasitism

Hosts to Ecosystems

Edited by Frédéric Thomas, Jean-François Guégan, and François Renaud

Preface, Robert Barbault
Introduction, Frédéric Thomas, Jean-François Guégan & François Renaud
1. The evolutionary ecology of the immune response, Gabriele Sorci, Thierry Boulinier, Michel Gauthier-Clerc & Bruno Faivre
2. Parasitism and evolution of life history traits, Yannis Michalakis
3. Parasites and sexual selection, Patrice David & Philipp Heeb
4. Parasites and behaviour, Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot & Frank Cézilly
5. Parasitism and hybrid zones, Catherine Moulia & Pierre Joly
6. Parasitism and host population regulation, Serge Morand & Julie Deter
7. Parasitism and biological control, Éric Wajnberg & Nicolas Ris
8. Health ecology: a new tool, the macroscope, Guillaume Constantin de Magny, François Renaud, Patrick Durand, & Jean-François Guégan
9. Parasitism, biodiversity and conservation biology, Camille Lebarbenchon, Robert Poulin, & Frédéric Thomas
Conclusion, Jacques Blondel
Appendix: Methodological chapter, Thierry Lefèvre, Nicolas Ris, & Guillaume Mitta

Ecology and Evolution of Parasitism

Hosts to Ecosystems

Edited by Frédéric Thomas, Jean-François Guégan, and François Renaud

Author Information

Frédéric Thomas, Jean-François Guégan and François Renaud are all Senior Research Fellows in two French research institutions (CNRS and IRD), and they are interested by the ecology and the evolution of host-parasite interactions. Their areas of research are various, involving population genetics, population dynamics, behavioural ecology, modelling and ecology of health. They regularly published in international journals (Nature, Current Biology, Evolution, Journal of Evolutionary Biology, PLoS, Proceedings B, Trends in Parasitology).

Books by the same authors:
Parasitism and Ecosystems |a Frédéric Thomas, Jean-François Guégan and François Renaud

Contributors:

Robert Barbault; Jacques Blondel; Thierry Boulinier; Frank Cézilly; Guillaume Constantin de Magny; Patrice David; Julie Deter; Patrick Durand; Bruno Faivre; Michel Gauthier-Clerc; Jean-François Guégan; Philipp Heeb; Pierre Joly; Camille Lebarbenchon; Thierry Lefèvre; Yannis Michalakis; Guillaume Mitta; Serge Morand; Catherine Moulia; Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot; Robert Poulin; François Renaud; Nicolas Ris; Gabriele Sorci; Frédéric Thomas; Éric Wajnberg