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Dispersal, host genotype and environment shape the spatial dynamics of a parasite in the wild
Author(s) -
Ekholm Adam,
Roslin Tomas,
Pulkkinen Pertti,
Tack Ayco J. M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.1002/ecy.1949
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , metapopulation , biology , host (biology) , ecology , parasite hosting , local extinction , extinction (optical mineralogy) , abundance (ecology) , occupancy , population , paleontology , demography , sociology , world wide web , computer science
Dispersal, environment and genetic variation may all play a role in shaping host‐parasite dynamics. Yet, in natural systems, their relative importance remains unresolved. Here, we do so for the epidemiology of a specialist parasite ( Erysiphe alphitoides ) on the pedunculate oak ( Quercus robur ). For this purpose, we combine evidence from a multi‐year field survey and two dispersal experiments, all conducted at the landscape scale. Patterns detected in the field survey suggest that the parasite is structured as a metapopulation, with trees in denser oak stands characterized by higher parasite occupancy, higher colonization rates and lower extinction rates. The dispersal experiments revealed a major impact of the environment and of host genotype on the presence and abundance of the parasite, with a weaker but detectable imprint of dispersal limitation. Overall, our findings emphasize that dispersal, host genotype and the environment jointly shape the spatial dynamics of a parasite in the wild.