PubMed · 1594287
Aggregation and stability in parasite-host models.
Abstract
This paper generalizes the two-dimensional approximation of models of macroparasites on homogeneous populations developed by Anderson & May (1978), focusing on how the dispersion (the variance to mean ratio) of the equilibrium distribution of parasites on hosts is related to the stability of the equilibrium. We show in the approximate system that the equilibrium is stabilized not by aggregation, but by dispersion which increases as a function of the mean. Computer simulations indicate, however, that this analysis fails to capture properly the dynamics of the full system, raising the question of whether any two-dimensional system could produce an adequate approximation. We discuss the relevance of our results to several empirical studies which have examined teh relation of dispersion to the mean.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
F R Adler, M Kretzschmar. 1992. Aggregation and stability in parasite-host models.. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182000061631
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.