Effect of Moniliformis moniliformis density on distribution within the definitive host population (Rattus norvegicus) |
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Authors: | Scott Monks and Brent B. Nickol |
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Affiliation: | School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0118, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | The population dynamics of Moniliformis moniliformis was studied in ‘free-ranging’ laboratory rats, Rattus norvegicus, presented with different relative density levels of M. moniliformis in cockroaches, Periplaneta americana. Changes in selected population parameters of the negative binomial distribution were evaluated as indicators of changes in aggregation. A significant increase in the degree of aggregation of parasites occurred as a result of the increase in relative density of infective stages available to the rats. This increase in aggregation was due to the increase in over-dispersion that occurred in female rats only. The degree of aggregation in females was found to be significantly higher than that in males at both treatment levels. The best indicators of the degree of aggregation were found to be the ratio of the variance to the relative density and the ratio of the log-variance to log-relative density. Changes in k were not correlated with changes in over-dispersion or the relative density. |
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Keywords: | Moniliformis moniliformis Acanthocephala Rattus norvegicus Periplaneta americana intensity-dependent population regulation distribution population dynamics over-dispersion relative density k variance to relative density ratio Crofton's model |
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