The role of parasite diversity in the life of the three-spined sticklebacks [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Gisep Rauch

The role of parasite diversity in the life of three-spined sticklebacks Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel Vorgelegt von: Gisep Rauch Max-Planck-Institut für Limnologie Abteilung Evolutionsökologie Plön 2006 Referent: Prof. Dr. Thorsten B. H. Reusch Korreferent: Prof. Dr. Günther B. Hartl Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 07.02.2006 Zum Druck genehmigt: 07.02.2006 Contents_______________________________________________________ Table of contents Summary 5 Zusammenfassung 8 Introduction 1. The role of parasite diversity 11 2. Regional diversity 14 3. The role of biodiversity for ecosystem functioning 14 4. Host defences against parasites 16 5. Study system 18 Outline 22 Chapters 1. Measuring genotypic diversity 25 2. Measuring genotypic diversity in the wild 31 3. The negative effect of genotypic diversity of an infection 47 4. The fast and specific defence 61 5. The role of the adaptive immune system 71 Conclusion 93 Acknowledgment 94 References 95 Curriculum vitae 103 Erklärung 1044 Summary Summary Parasite infections containing genetically different parasites of the same species are widespread in nature.