Helminth fecundity: density dependence or statistical illusion?
Density-dependent constraints on fecundity or survival are critical for the regulation and stability o f all populations. Helminth parasites are no exception to this rule. In medical helminthology, it has been widely assumed that the most effective density-dependent constraints act upon parasite fecundity and are the result of intra-specific parasite competition or acquired immunity to infection. In this article, Anne Keymer and Andrew Slater advocate a more detailed examination of the evidence on which this assumption rests.
Keymer
A E
AE
Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX 13PS, UK.
Slater
A F
AF