Article
"Resistance Is Futile": Weaker Selection for Resistance by Abundant Parasites Increases Prevalence and Depresses Host Density.
The American naturalist - 1 Jun 2023
Walsman Jason C, Duffy Meghan A, Cáceres Carla E, Hall Spencer R
Abstract excerpt
AbstractTheory often predicts that host populations should evolve greater resistance when parasites become abundant. Furthermore, that evolutionary response could ameliorate declines in host populations during epidemics. Here, we argue for an update: when all host genotypes become sufficiently infected, higher parasite abundance can select for lower resistance because its cost exceeds its benefit. We illustrate...
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