Ecological Genetics of Host-Parasite Interactions

虽然寄生虫无处不在，并发挥重要作用， 大多数自然群落，它们通常被忽视， 人口生物学家 几乎完全缺乏知识， 寄生虫自然种群的遗传结构是 特别值得注意。 寄生虫的遗传变异 它们感染不同种类宿主的能力与 关于（1）寄生虫对物种的影响的问题 （2）遗传多样性; 寄主内的变异和有性繁殖;（3）寄主- 寄生虫的共同进化;（4）寄生虫的物种形成模式。 这样的遗传变异在进化中也可能是重要的， 人畜共患病生态学（可感染人类的动物寄生虫） 以及感染农业植物的病原真菌。 研究 这里提出的重点是一种线虫，Howardula 在自然界中寄生于食用蘑菇的物种 果蝇的 先前的研究表明这种线虫 可能对个人、群体和社区产生重大影响 苍蝇。 研究内容包括：（1）自然生态系统调查 种群H.遗传变异的研究 感染性、致病性和个体生长率作为一种 寄主植物的功能;（2）选择实验， 确定主机可用性模式如何影响 宿主专业化

Although parasites are ubiquitous and play an important role in most natural communities, they have generally been overlooked by population biologist. The almost complete lack of knowledge of the genetic structure of natural populations of parasites is particularly noteworthy. Genetic variation among parasites in their ability to infect various species of hosts is relevant to questions concerning (1) the effects of parasites on species diversity within communities, (2) the maintenance of genetic variation and sexual reproduction within host species, (3) host- parasite coevolution, and (4) modes of speciation in parasites. Such genetic variation may also be important in the evolution and ecology of zoonoses (parasites of animals that can infect humans) and pathogenic fungi that infect agricultural plants. The research proposed here focuses on a species of nematode, Howardula aoronymphium, that in nature parasitizes mushroom-feeding species of Drosophila. Previous studies have indicated that this nematode can have major effects on individuals, populations, and communities of flies. The proposed research includes: (1) a survey of natural populations of H. aoronymphium for genetic variation in infectivity, pathogenicity, and individual growth rate as a function of host species; and (2) selection experiments to determine how patterns of host availability affect the evolution of host specialization.