On multiple infections by parasites with complex life cycles

Abstract

Host manipulation is a common strategy of parasites with complex life cycles. It directly affects predator-prey dynamics in trophically transmitted parasites. Theoretical studies suggest that predation-enhancing manipulation of-ten decimates the prey population, making parasites prone to extinction. Host manipulation, however, can also reduce predation due to conflicting interests when multiple parasites infect a host, which is often neglected in theoretical studies. Misaligned interests of coinfecting parasites can occur due to limited carrying capacity or parasitoid developmental stage. Including this realistic complexity in a mathematical model, the results depart from previous studies substantially. We show that coinfecting multi-trophic parasites can preserve the predator-prey system and themselves through manipulation and reproduction parameters. Our study highlights the necessity of and provides the means for incorporating the reality of multiple parasites and their multi-trophic life cycles into the theory of parasite ecology.