TY - JOUR
T1 - Pattern and Paradox in Parasite Reproduction
AU - Calow, P.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2016 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1983/4
Y1 - 1983/4
N2 - Parasites are more fecund than free-living relatives. The traditional explanation of this is that parasites have to compensate for massive mortality in the transmission phase of their life cycles, but there are neo-Darwinian problems with this interpretation. Similarly, parasites invest more resources in reproduction than free-living relatives but often live longer as adults, and yet negative correlations are expected between fecundity and longevity. These patterns and paradoxes are discussed within the context of a general life-cycle theory. The theory is also used to address questions concerning the influence of age-specific mortality on life-cycle patterns, the trade-off between gamete size and numbers, and the relative merits of gametic and non-gametic reproduction. Wherever possible, the theory is related to facts about parasites.
AB - Parasites are more fecund than free-living relatives. The traditional explanation of this is that parasites have to compensate for massive mortality in the transmission phase of their life cycles, but there are neo-Darwinian problems with this interpretation. Similarly, parasites invest more resources in reproduction than free-living relatives but often live longer as adults, and yet negative correlations are expected between fecundity and longevity. These patterns and paradoxes are discussed within the context of a general life-cycle theory. The theory is also used to address questions concerning the influence of age-specific mortality on life-cycle patterns, the trade-off between gamete size and numbers, and the relative merits of gametic and non-gametic reproduction. Wherever possible, the theory is related to facts about parasites.
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U2 - 10.1017/S0031182000050897
DO - 10.1017/S0031182000050897
M3 - Article
C2 - 6866567
AN - SCOPUS:0020565506
SN - 0031-1820
VL - 86
SP - 197
EP - 207
JO - Parasitology
JF - Parasitology
IS - 4
ER -