Data from: A metabolic and body-size scaling framework for parasite within-host abundance, biomass, and energy flux

Energetics may provide a useful currency for studying the ecology of parasite assemblages within individual hosts. Parasite assemblages may also provide powerful models to study general principles of ecological energetics. Yet there has been little ecological research on parasite-host energetics, probably due to methodological difficulties. However, the scaling relationships of individual metabolic rate with body or cell-size and temperature may permit us to tackle the energetics of parasite assemblages in hosts. This paper offers the foundations and initial testing of a metabolic theory of ecology (MTE) framework for parasites in hosts. I first provide equations to estimate energetic flux through observed parasite assemblages. I then develop metabolic-scaling theory for parasite abundance, energetics, and biomass in individual hosts. In contrast to previous efforts, the theory factors in both host and parasite metabolic scaling, how parasites use host space, and whether energy or space dictates carrying capacity. Empirical tests indicate that host energetic flux can set parasite carrying capacity, which decreases as predicted considering the scaling of host and parasite metabolic rates. The theory and results also highlight that the phenomenon of “energetic equivalence” is not an assumption of MTE, but a possible outcome contingent on how species partition resources. Hence, applying MTE to parasites can lend mechanistic, quantitative, predictive insight into the nature of parasitism and can inform general ecological theory.

DataHechingerFig2Data underlying Fig 2 in the manuscript. See ReadMe file for metadata.DataHechingerFig3Data underlying Fig 3 of manuscript. For metadata, see ReadMe file associated with DataHechingerFig2.txt.

Keywords

Dracunculus sp., Draschia megastoma, Gongylonema pulchrum, Baylisascaris transfuga, Ecology: community, Cylicodontophorus reineckei, Nematodirus odocoilei, Skrjabinema parva, Cylicocyclus auriculatus, Dictyocaulus viviparus, Haemonchus contortus, Oesophagostomum venulosum, energetics, Globocephalus urosubulatus, Poteriostomum ratzii, Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum, Hymenolepis diminuta, Physaloptera rara, Cylicospirura subaequalis, Molineus barbatus, Haemonchus mitchelli, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Lagochilascaris sp., Protostrongylus macrotis, Strongyloides sigmodontis, Trichostrongylus affinis, Syphacia peromysci, Strongyloides westeri, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Capillaria putorii, Dirofilaria immitis, Metathelazia californica, Setaria equina, Cyathostomum tetracanthum, Triodontophorus minor, Moniliformis dubius, Parascaris equorum, Carolinensis kinsellai, Craterostomum acuticaudatum, Metastrongylus pudendoctectus, Cyathostomum labratum, Triodontophorus nipponicus, Skrjabinema sp., Ascarops strongylina, Ostertagia ostertagi, Crenosoma sp., Gnathostoma sp., Cylicocyclus gyalocephaloides, Cylicostephanus calicatus, Metastrongylus apri, Nematodirus helvetianus, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Capillaria plica, Cylicocyclus triramosus, Monodontus floridanus, Cooperia oncophora, Placoconus lotoris, Oslerus osleri, Trichuris vulpis, Cylicostephanus minutus, Triodontophorus brevicaudata, Pharyngostomoides procyonis, Physaloptera praeputialis, Ancylostoma caninum, Strongyloides sp., Toxocara cati, Ascaris suum, Ostertagia mossi, Trichostrongylus axei, Syphacia sigmodontis, Interactions: host/parasite, Stephanurus dentatus, Cyathostomum alveatum, Litosomoides carinii, Cylicodontophorus schuermanni, Vogeloides felis, Apteragia odocoilei, Capillaria aerophilus, Cylicocyclus adersi, Oxyuris equi, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Cyathostomum montgomeryi, Trichostrongylus thomasi, Crossocephalus viviparus, Toxascaris leonina, Spirocerca lupi, Habronema muscae, Pterygodermatites peromysci, Probstmayria vivipara, Poteriostomum imparidentatum, Cylicostephanus longiconus, Cyathospirura sp., Parabronema pecariae, Triodontophorus serratus, Cyathostomum catenatum, Protospirura numidica, Physocephalus sexalatus, Texicospirura turki, Sertaria yehi, Parabronema skrjabini, Cylicostephanus bidentatus

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