Parasitism and Ecosystems

Download or read book Parasitism and Ecosystems written by Frédéric Thomas and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2005-01-06 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For several years there has been a growing interest in understanding the dynamics of parasites in ecosystems, as well as the diversity of ways in which they influence ecosystem functioning through their effects on host populations and communities. Ecologists, epidemiologists, evolutionary biologists, and other scientists are increasingly coming to realise that parasites must be taken into account when studying ecosystems. Parasitism and Ecosystems summarizes current knowledge on this topic, providing a comprehensive overview for researchers and students. It represents the first synthesis of both the roles and the consequences of pathogens in ecosystems, utilising well-documented case-studies to illustrate the main issues as well as identifying prospects for future research.