Dissertation Research: Linking Intra- and Inter-Host Parasite Population Dynamics to Natural Populations of Poecilia reticulata and Gyrodactylus turnbulli

9972723威尔逊和吉尔克里斯特杜克大学虽然寄生虫对宿主种群动态的理论重要性已经得到很好的证实，但大多数模型忽略了寄生虫在宿主内感染的动态。寄主内寄生虫种群动态的重要性通常不被理解。该项目建立在宿主内寄生虫种群动态的基本模型上，以评估不同的寄生虫传播方式。大多数寄生虫感染的本质使得对宿主-寄生虫相互作用的经验生态学研究变得困难。该项目将这些理论方法的测试与精心挑选的经验系统联系起来。这一总体方法将有助于理解宿主内寄生虫种群动态在自然种群中所起的作用。

9972723 Wilson and GilchristDuke University Although the theoretical importance of parasites on host population dynamics has been well established, most models ignore the dynamics of a parasite infections within a host. The importance of parasite population dynamics within a host is generally not understood. This project builds on a basic model of within-host parasite population dynamics to evaluate different modes of parasite transmission. The very nature of most parasitic infections makes empirical ecological studies of host-parasite interactions difficult. This project links tests of these theoretical approaches with a carefully chosen empirical system. This overall approach will lead to an understanding of the role that within-host parasite population dynamics play in natural populations.