model of trophic evolutionary pathways
By: by A. Kimo Morris.
Published: 1997
Language: eng
Number of pages: 133
Subjects: Parasites -- Ecology -- Mathematical models.; Parasitism -- Mathematical models.; Food chains (Ecology) -- Mathematical models.
First sentence: Trophism is an integral part of all biological systems.
Description: Calow (1983) realized that differences between parasites and their free-living relatives can be explained by the differences in nutrient richness.  I propose a model that is based on Calow’s idea which identifies the relative position of different trophic strategies (e.g. predation, grazing, parasitism and others) based on (1) the differences by which consumers arrive at their intrinsic rate of growth, and (2) the ecological impact they inflict on their hosts.  I hypothesize that trophic interactions can be clarified if a parameter is included that takes into account the host’s/prey’s fate in the interaction.  Moreover, this model suggests specific trophic evolutionary pathways (TEPs) between each strategy, and suggests that some pathways are more likely than others.  In particular, parasitoidism is believed to be a highly derived strategy, and the TEPs presented in the model suggest parasitoidism could have arisen from either a predator-like or a typical-parasitic ancestor.
Notes: Typescript (photocopy)

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1998.

Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: value: CHAPTER 1:  MODELING TROPHISM; value: 1.1  INTRODUCTION; value: 1.2  DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN THIS THESIS; value: CHAPTER 2:  ASSESSMENT OF PARASITOIDISM IN THE INVERTEBRATES; value: 2.1 INTRODUCTION; value: 2.2 PARASITOIDS; value: 2.3 INSECT PARASITOIDS; value: 2.4 OTHER SIMILAR NON-PARASITOID INSECTS; value: 2.5 NON-INSECT PARASITOIDS; value: 2.6 OTHER ORGANISMS SUGGESTED AS BEING PARASITOIDS; value: 2.7 CONCLUSION; value: 2.8 REFERENCES; value: CHAPTER 3:  TROPHIC EVOLUTIONARY PATHWAYS: A MODEL BASED ON LIFE HISTORY PARAMETERS; value: 3.1 ABSTRACT; value: 3.2 INTRODUCTION; value: 3.3 CALOW’S PARADOX; value: 3.4 GENERAL POPULATION GROWTH MODEL; value: 3.5 TRADE-OFF THEORY; value: 3.6 NUTRIENT LIMITED CURVE; value: 3.7 IDENTIFYING NON-INTIMATE TROPHIC EXTREMES; value: 3.8 NUTRIENT RICH CURVE; value: 3.9 IDENTIFYING INTIMATE TROPHIC EXTREMES; value: 3.10 CONTINUOUS INCREASE OF e^r AND THE MINIMUM DISTANCE; value: 3.11 INCORPORATING HOST FATE; value: 3.12 TROPHIC EVOLUTIONARY PATHWAYS; value: 3.13 DISCUSSION; value: 3.14 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; value: 3.15 REFERENCES