Parasites and host life-history traits: implications for community ecologyand species co-existence

Most of the evidence for a key role of parasites in structuring communities is based on the idea of a differential susceptibility of host species to i nfection and its consequences. Recent advances in community ecology suggest that life-history traits of free-living species can be an important determ inant of their co-existence within communities. On the other hand, parasite s have the potential to indirectly alter the life-history traits of their h osts, such as developmental time or dispersal. We discuss the idea that the se indirect effects could influence the structure of free-living and parasi te communities. We explore this idea in relation to related concepts includ ing 'parasitic arbitration' and engineering processes. (C) 2000 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.