Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1500
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-8-19
pubmed:abstractText
Even though theoretical models show that parasites may regulate host population densities, few empirical studies have given support to this hypothesis. We present experimental and observational evidence for a host-parasite interaction where the parasite has sufficient impact on host population dynamics for regulation to occur. During a six year study of the Svalbard reindeer and its parasitic gastrointestinal nematode Ostertagia gruehneri we found that anthelminthic treatment in April-May increased the probability of a reindeer having a calf in the next year, compared with untreated controls. However, treatment did not influence the over-winter survival of the reindeer. The annual variation in the degree to which parasites depressed fecundity was positively related to the abundance of O. gruehneri infection the previous October, which in turn was related to host density two years earlier. In addition to the treatment effect, there was a strong negative effect of winter precipitation on the probability of female reindeer having a calf. A simple matrix model was parameterized using estimates from our experimental and observational data. This model shows that the parasite-mediated effect on fecundity was sufficient to regulate reindeer densities around observed host densities.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-10428633, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-10456416, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-10605131, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-10759088, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-10899533, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-11104041, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-11731982, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-11839190, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-3535434, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-3714308, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-460424, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-6887429, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-8885624, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/12184833-9856948
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0962-8452
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
7
pubmed:volume
269
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1625-32
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-11-18
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
The role of parasites in the dynamics of a reindeer population.
pubmed:affiliation
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Hill of Brathens, Banchory AB31 4BW, UK. s.albon@ceh.ac.uk
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't