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Spatial heterogeneity and the stability of host‐parasite coexistence
Author(s) -
BROCKHURST M. A.,
BUCKLING A,
RAINEY P. B.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.01026.x
Subject(s) - biology , ephemeral key , biological dispersal , spatial heterogeneity , parasite hosting , host (biology) , microcosm , metapopulation , ecology , bacteriophage , population , genetics , demography , escherichia coli , sociology , world wide web , computer science , gene
Spatially heterogeneous environments can theoretically promote more stable coexistence of hosts and parasites by reducing the risk of parasite attack either through providing permanent spatial refuges or through providing ephemeral refuges by reducing dispersal. In experimental populations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the bacteriophage PP7, spatial heterogeneity promoted stable coexistence of host and parasite, while coexistence was significantly less stable in the homogeneous environment. Phage populations were found to be persisting on subpopulations of sensitive bacteria. Transferring populations to fresh microcosms every 24 h prevented the development of permanent spatial refuges. However, the lower dispersal rates in the heterogeneous environment were found to reduce parasite transmission thereby creating ephemeral refuges from phage attack. These results suggest that spatial heterogeneity can stabilize an otherwise unstable host‐parasite interaction even in the absence of permanent spatial refuges.