PARASITE MEDIATION IN ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS

Abstract

The interaction between two populations, whether of the same or different species, can often be influenced by a third population of a separate species. For example, the outcome of competition between two species can be modified by a predator, parasite, or pathogen (57, 88, 105). Consider Figure 1. Competitor A affects competitor B via three routes. The direct effect (-a) is called interference competition, and the effect via impact on a common resource (-g x +j) is called resource competition. The effect via a common