Niche construction consequences of parasite virulence in eco-evolutionary dynamics (C05*)

在感染过程中，寄生虫通过改变宿主的生理、形态和行为来构建它们的生态位。通过这样做，寄生虫可以产生深远的生态和进化影响。在这个项目中，我们将整合计算模型和实验与三刺棘鱼（Gasterosteus aculeatus）和他们的营养传播绦虫Schistocephalus solidus调查寄生虫从个人到生态系统的广泛的生态和进化影响。这项工作将推动宿主-寄生虫相互作用的研究边界，说明寄生虫特征如何驱动宿主生态位个体化和塑造生态进化动力学。

During infection, parasites construct their niches by altering their hosts’ physiology, morphology, and behaviour. By doing so, parasites can have far-reaching ecological and evolutionary effects. In this project, we will integrate computational models and experiments with three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and their trophically transmitted tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus to investigate the widespread ecological and evolutionary effects of parasites from individuals to ecosystems. This work will push the research boundaries in host-parasite interactions by illustrating how parasite traits drive host niche individualisation and shape eco-evolutionary dynamics.