TY - JOUR
T1 - Frequency-dependent host selection by parasitic mites
T2 - a model and a case study
AU - Izraylevich, S.
AU - Hasson, O.
AU - Gerson, U.
PY - 1995/5
Y1 - 1995/5
N2 - Previous studies on frequency-dependent food selection (changing food preferences in response to changes in relative food abundance) have focused on predators and parasitoids. These organisms utilize several victims during their lifetime. We introduce the case of parasites which, having accepted a host, do not change it. We propose two alternative models to explain the biased occurrence of parasites on different host types: (1) through the option of rejecting less-preferred hosts prior to accepting one of them; (2) by differential parasite survival on different host types. These models predict that host rejection, but not differential survival, can create frequency-dependent parasitism (FDP). Unlike previously described factors responsible for frequency dependence of food selection, which act through changing the foraging behaviour of individual predators or parasitoids, FDP involves no adjustment of parasite foraging strategy according to previous feeding experience. The mite Hemisarcoptes coccophagus is an obligate parasite of armoured scale insects (Homptera: Diaspididae). Our field data show that H. coccophagus is found more frequently on ovipositing than on young host females. Our model, combining the effects of host rejection and differential survival, is used to estimate the relative contribution of these factors to parasite biased occurrence on different hosts. The contribution of differential survival was dominant in H. coccophagus, and overode any effect of host rejection. Nevertheless, our prediction that FDP may be found in parasites is supported by literature data about a parasitic water mite.
AB - Previous studies on frequency-dependent food selection (changing food preferences in response to changes in relative food abundance) have focused on predators and parasitoids. These organisms utilize several victims during their lifetime. We introduce the case of parasites which, having accepted a host, do not change it. We propose two alternative models to explain the biased occurrence of parasites on different host types: (1) through the option of rejecting less-preferred hosts prior to accepting one of them; (2) by differential parasite survival on different host types. These models predict that host rejection, but not differential survival, can create frequency-dependent parasitism (FDP). Unlike previously described factors responsible for frequency dependence of food selection, which act through changing the foraging behaviour of individual predators or parasitoids, FDP involves no adjustment of parasite foraging strategy according to previous feeding experience. The mite Hemisarcoptes coccophagus is an obligate parasite of armoured scale insects (Homptera: Diaspididae). Our field data show that H. coccophagus is found more frequently on ovipositing than on young host females. Our model, combining the effects of host rejection and differential survival, is used to estimate the relative contribution of these factors to parasite biased occurrence on different hosts. The contribution of differential survival was dominant in H. coccophagus, and overode any effect of host rejection. Nevertheless, our prediction that FDP may be found in parasites is supported by literature data about a parasitic water mite.
KW - Differential survival
KW - Frequency-dependent parasitism
KW - Host preference Switching
KW - Host rejection
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028975375&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/BF00333244
DO - 10.1007/BF00333244
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AN - SCOPUS:0028975375
SN - 0029-8549
VL - 102
SP - 138
EP - 145
JO - Oecologia
JF - Oecologia
IS - 2
ER -