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Ecologists, epidemiologists and evolutionary biologists are increasingly aware of the significance of parasites in the study of ecosystems. This text provides a summary of the issues involved as well as an overview of the possibilities offered by this research topic, using well documented case studies to illustrate the main trends and prospects in this area.
Introduction: Parasites, diversity, and the ecosystem; 1. Linking ecosystem and parasite ecology; 2. Are there general laws in parasite community ecology? The emergence of spatial parasitology and epidemiology; 3. Parasitism and the regulation of host populations; 4. Food web patterns and the parasite's perspective; 5. Ecosystems and parasitism: the spatial dimension; 6. Parasitism and hostile environments; 7. Parasitism and environmental disturbances; 8. Parasitism, biodiversity, and conservation; 9. Subverting hosts and diverting ecosystems: an evolutionary modelling perspective; 10. Parasitism in man-made ecosystems; Conclusion: Parasites, communities, and ecosystems: conclusions and perspectives; References; Index
The book is well-written and produced...highly recommended. Parasitology, Volume 132 - 2006 It is an introductory, but penetrating, anecdotal and readable, yet packed with well chosen examples and illustrations of principles...This is an account that will appeal to ecologists of all backgrounds and does not assume any deep knowledge of parisitology. Combined with its readable text abd rich supply of examples this makes it ideal as an introduction to the subject for undergraduate students. Peter Moore, Bulletin of the British Ecological Society 2006, 37:1
