BIOB50H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Coevolution, Whitefly
1 Feb 2014
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Parasites also have adaptations to circumvent host defenses: ectoparasites face challenges similar to those of herbivores and predators as they cope with toxins and other defenses of their food organisms, ex: must be able to pierce the protective outer covering of the host, and they must be able to tolerate whatever chemical compounds are presented in the host tissues or body fluids they eat. A fungal pathogen that cause chestnut blight was introduced from asia in 1904, and by mid century, the fungus wiped out most chestnut populations and fewer than 100 mature trees remained: once the fungus reaches a tree it enters the tree through a hole or wound in the bark, killing the above ground but before they die, the infected trees may produce seeds, which may germinate and give rise before those are killed by the fungus too, figure 13. 15 original distribution in red.
