Coexistence in a competitive parasitoid-host system (Q2177097)

In this work, the conditions of coexistence in a community of two competing parasitoids separating the host at a certain stage of development are studied. The authors consider two types of parasitoids, differing only in search efficiency and competitiveness, defined as the probability that one parasitoid will survive in competition with a doubly parasitic host. The study focuses, first, on the role of host life history parameters, and second, on the role of competitiveness. The effects of the shelters created by the staged structure in the host population as stimulators of the coexistence in the community of two competing parasitoids sharing the same individual host have been studied. Differences in the biology of parasitoids were represented by differences in search efficiency and competitiveness. The authors considered the cases of a competitive hierarchy (one top and one lowest competitor) and its absence (the absence of a superior competitor). Thus, a system of three equations with discrete time was constructed, which take into account the structure of the host stage with one susceptible stage and two competing parasitoids with independent search efficiency. The results of the study suggest that random competitive abilities (hypothetically arising if competitiveness is a selectively neutral trait with large genetic variance at the population level) increase the risk of extinction, confirming the hypothesis that the persistence of the interaction of competitive host parasitoids with a certain competitive hierarchy is associated with a decrease in individual differences in competitiveness. The results show the influence of competition on coexistence, but also confirm the importance of resource dynamics for the coexistence of competing consumers. The work examined two competing parasitoids attacking the same stage of host development and differing only in search efficiency and competitive abilities. This similarity in host preference highlights the role of host dynamics in community resilience.