Thermal biology in insect-parasite interactions

Matthew B. Thomas, Simon Blanford

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

399 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recently, several applied studies exploring the use of pathogens for insect biocontrol have demonstrated significant effects of environmental temperature on the outcome of infection. For example, host resistance, host recovery, pathogen virulence and replication can alter considerably with sometimes very small changes in temperature. Moreover, the effectiveness of certain insect parasitoids and the activity of endosymbionts can vary across the range of realistic temperatures experienced in the field. These responses are not necessarily linear or immediately predictable, because they derive from a complex 'genotype-by-genotype-by-environment' interaction. Given the importance of parameters such as virulence and resistance in determining the course of a host-parasite interaction, such effects of temperature could have profound implications for host-parasite dynamics and coevolution.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)344-350
Number of pages7
JournalTrends in Ecology and Evolution
Volume18
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2003

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Thermal biology in insect-parasite interactions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this