Parasite Burden and Infection Duration Variation Among Individuals: Ubiquitous Patterns with a Common Cause?

  • Friday, September 20, 2019
  • 1:30 PM–2:30 PM
  • Science Building 010

Parasite Burden and Infection Duration Variation Among Individuals: Ubiquitous Patterns with a Common Cause? Guest Speaker: Dr. Clay Cressler- University of Nebraska, Lincoln Friday, Sept. 20th, 2019 1:30p - 2:30p SB101 (The Pit)

Parasite Burden and Infection Duration Variation Among Individuals: Ubiquitous Patterns with a Common Cause?

Guest Speaker: Dr. Clay Cressler- University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Friday, Sept. 20th, 2019

1:30p - 2:30p

SB010 (The Pit)

Check out the overview of this week's special presentation in the "BIO295- BioSem" seminar series....

Parasite distributions within a host population are typically aggregated, with most hosts having only a few parasites, and some having many. This pattern, known as Taylor’s law, has attracted considerable empirical and theoretical attention. Here I examine the historical distribution of parasites among fish hosts in Nebraska, showing that the pattern cannot be explained in terms of simple null models. I then propose a novel model for explaining Taylor’s law that relies on Allee effects. I show that these effects are inherent to the host-parasite interaction, and generate realistic variation in infection duration as well as the classic patterns described by Taylor’s law.

We would love to have you join us!

Location details

Science Building 010- located on the ground floor of the Science Building