부산대학교 도서관

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2005.01020.x Byline: K. MARY WEBBERLEY (*[dagger]), JAROSLAW BUSZKO ([double dagger]), VALERIE ISHAM (s.), GREGORY D. D. HURST (*) Keywords: Adalia bipunctata; natural population; parasite dynamics; seasonality; simulation Abstract: Summary The epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in human and domesticated populations is well documented. However, there has been less study of STDs in natural populations. We investigated STD dynamics in the model system involving a host from the most speciose group of animals: the insects. We investigated temporal variation in the prevalence of the sexually transmitted mite Coccipolipus hippodamiae on its ladybird host, Adalia bipunctata. Field surveys over two seasons showed a repeated pattern of a profound epidemic in the overwintered cohort and a later prevalence decline. In order to understand the key factors in the dynamics of this system we studied the phenology of the host and simulated parasite dynamics in the overwintered cohort using a model with within-sex homogeneity in mating rate and field-measured parameter values. The similarity of natural and simulation prevalence levels allowed us to carry out sensitivity analysis and hence to identify the key determinants of the dynamics. The observed pattern of periodic extreme prevalence combined with system persistence probably results from time lags in host recruitment and widespread promiscuity. Our findings improve our understanding of STDs in natural populations and illustrate the importance of examining seasonality and time delays in population dynamics in order to fully understand the characteristics of natural populations and their parasites. Author Affiliation: (*)Department of Biology, University College London, London, UK; ([dagger])School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; ([double dagger])Department of Animal Ecology, Institute of Biology, Nicholas Copernicus University, Torun, Poland (s.)Department of Statistical Science, University College London, London, UK Article History: Received 8 December 2004; revised version accepted 8 July 2005 Article note: Correspondence: Mary Webberley, School of Animal Biology (M092), University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. Tel: + 61 86488 3233; E-mail: mary.webberley@uwa.edu.au