Parasite Diversity and Diversification: Evolutionary Ecology Meets Phylogenetics. Edited by Serge Morand, Boris R. Krasnov, and D. Timothy J. Littlewood. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press. $125.00. xiv + 488 p. + 4 pl.; ill.; index. ISBN: 978-1-107-03765-6. 2015.

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Previous articleNext article FreeConservation BiologyParasite Diversity and Diversification: Evolutionary Ecology Meets Phylogenetics. Edited by Serge Morand, Boris R. Krasnov, and D. Timothy J. Littlewood. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press. $125.00. xiv + 488 p. + 4 pl.; ill.; index. ISBN: 978-1-107-03765-6. 2015.George Poinar Jr.George Poinar Jr.Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon Search for more articles by this author Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OregonPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailQR Code SectionsMoreThis hardbound book contains contributions of 55 authors arranged in 26 chapters. The main objective of the volume is to show how phylogenetics can be combined with evolutionary ecology to better understand patterns of parasite and host diversity and diversification.The book is organized into three parts: evolutionary ecology of parasite diversity; evolutionary history of parasite diversity; and relationships between ecology and phylogenetics. Under Part I, chapters deal with the following topics: quantifying parasite diversity; relationships between parasite diversity and host diversity; patterns of diversity and distribution of aquatic invertebrates and their parasites; how shifting geographic distributions and sexual selection shape parasite diversification; and impacts of parasite diversity on wild vertebrates. In Part II, chapters cover subjects such as: using molecular techniques and subtle microscopy to study microparasite diversity in aquatic environments; the evolution of simian retroviruses; the diversity and phylogeny of Rickettsia; classification, evolutionary history, and evolution of parasitism in acanthocephalans; using lice to study primate evolution; host diversification in relation to avian lice; the evolutionary history of fleas; batfly evolution from the Tertiary to the present; evolution of host-parasite mites; nematode life traits in relation to their phylogenic diversity; phylogenetic diversity in trematodes and cestodes; and parasite diversity in Caribbean Anolis.In the final part, chapters deal with more general and often more esoteric topics, including: recent developments and uses of parasites; phylogenetic signals in ecological properties of parasites; evolution of the parasite niche; community perspectives on the evolution of virulence; host specificity and species jumps in fish-parasite systems; whether cophylogeny is evidence of coevolution; combining phylogenies and behavior in host-parasite interactions; the evolutionary epidemiology of the hepatitis C virus; and conclusions and perspectives regarding parasite diversity and diversification.All parasitologists will find something of interest in the various chapters presented in this volume. Unfortunately, many recent references are missing, including those regarding the history of parasites, a field that the editors stress as very important for studying the coevolution of parasites and their hosts.As with most multiauthored books on general subjects such as parasites, the topics presented are based on the specialized interest of the authors. This usually results in some parasites being overlooked, such as mammalian blood parasites represented by members of Babesiidae and Theileriidae. Also missing is any mention of Leishmania parasites. The coverage of ticks, which vector more groups of pathogens than any other arthropods, is limited to a short section in the parasitic mite chapter. Plague and Lyme disease are only briefly noted in passing, and examining the index for mention of these and other subjects can be misleading since many of the listings in the index refer to the word in the reference section at the end of the chapters. Previous articleNext article DetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Quarterly Review of Biology Volume 92, Number 1March 2017 Published in association with Stony Brook University Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/690864 For permission to reuse, please contact [email protected]PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.