Parasitism - 9780521664479

Nearly all living organisms are exploited by some sort of parasite. But what are parasites? How many different types are there? What exactly is parasitism? In this undergraduate textbook parasitism is described as an ecological relationship. Ecology implies the study of the interaction between organisms and their environments and the fact that parasites' hosts are alive makes this concept even more exciting, combining traditionally disparate disciplines such as immunology and physiology with ecology and epidemiology! All the major groups of animal parasites are described, who they are, how they live, their biogeography, evolution, the influence they exert on their hosts' populations, their immunological, pathological, and biochemical implications. Written in an accessible style, the subject matter is brought to life with numerous illustrations and textboxes containing anecdotal, interesting, and supplementary material. Essential for all undergraduate students studying parasitology, Parasitism: The Diversity and Ecology of Animal Parasites will also be useful reading for graduates and researchers in zoology and ecology.