Parasite effects on host’s trophic and isotopic niches
Born-Torrijos, A.; Riekenberg, P.M.; van der Meer, M.T.J.; Nachev, M.; Sures, B.; Thieltges, D.W. (2023). Parasite effects on host’s trophic and isotopic niches. Trends Parasitol. 39(9): 749-759. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2023.06.003
In: Trends in Parasitology. Elsevier Trends Journals: Cambridge. ISSN 1471-4922; e-ISSN 1471-5007, more
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| Author keywords |
stable isotopes; host–parasite interaction; uninfected individuals |
| Authors | | Top |
- Born-Torrijos, A.
- Riekenberg, P.M., more
- van der Meer, M.T.J., more
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- Nachev, M.
- Sures, B.
- Thieltges, D.W., more
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| Abstract |
Wild animals are usually infected with parasites that can alter their hosts’ trophic niches in food webs as can be seen from stable isotope analyses of infected versus uninfected individuals. The mechanisms influencing these effects of parasites on host isotopic values are not fully understood. Here, we develop a conceptual model to describe how the alteration of the resource intake or the internal resource use of hosts by parasites can lead to differences of trophic and isotopic niches of infected versus uninfected individuals and ultimately alter resource flows through food webs. We therefore highlight that stable isotope studies inferring trophic positions of wild organisms in food webs would benefit from routine identification of their infection status. |
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