Surname: 1 Name of Student Name of Professor Name of Course Date Mathematical Model of the Predator/Prey Relationship between Fungus and Ants Introduction There are some parasites that have an adaptive ability that allows them to infect and take over control of the host's behavior. This allows the parasite to propagate its genes while crippling or killing the host in the process; as such, the endeavor is only beneficial to the parasite. The host's behavior is considered to assume the phenotype of the controlling parasite[ CITATION Hug11 \l 1033 ]. The level of manipulation conducted on the host varies from one species of parasite to the next. Some parasites only cause minor changes in the host's behaviors; however, other parasites cause the host to behavior in a manner that is normally not associated with that species and is completely unexpected (i.e. the hosts therefore become extended phenotypes). The study of extended phenotypes has become a critical topic in behavioral, evolutionary, and community ecology. Previous research studies on extended phenotypes have primarily focused on understanding whether the behavioral changes were caused by: adaptations in the parasites, host inspired defense mechanisms, or a by-product of parasite infection and subjugation[ CITATION Fre18 \l 1033 ]. With regard to adaptation lead manipulation of animals' behavior by a parasite, a great example would be the impact of the fungal parasites grouped under the classification genus Ophiocordyceps and the worker ants. The infect ants experience uncontrollable death grip behavior that eventually results in their death; the underlining reason is seen to be nothing more
Surname: 2 that for the reproduction of the fungal parasite. An ant becomes infected by the parasite when spores of the fungi attach to the ant's cuticle and eventually germinate allowing them to spread throughout the host's body. The fungal parasite them assumes control of the ant and forces it to find an ideal spot for spore dispensation. After which, the ant then clasps down it jaw on a twig for permanent anchorage of the host thus allowing for a stalk to sprout from the ants head that will release spores to infect other ants[ CITATION Que18 \l 1033 ]. Method A comparative assessment technique will be employed that seeks to establish the presence of a causative relationship between the birthrate of fungi and the carrying capacity observed in the fungi (parasite) and ants (host). The predictor variable in this analysis will therefore be the birthrate of fungi; the variable will assume values between 2.5 and 5 with change values of 0.5 between values. The sample size of the explanatory variable will be limited to only 6 values. The analysis will demand two independent assessments to be conducted with two different responses variables; for the purposes of proper comparison of results. The response variables will be the carrying capacity of the fungi and that of the ants. Both response variables will have only 6 values similar to those of the predictor variable (birthrate of fungi). The assessments were performed in R Studio and the procedure that was followed is provided in the appendix. Results The information presented in graph 1 (Appendix) indicates that there is some influence that birthrate of fungi has on the carrying capacity of both ants and fungi. With this information it is important to assess the exact relationship that is observed between the predictor variable and each of the response variables.
Surname: 3 Table 1 Graph 2 The results in table one indicate that the carrying capacity of fungi assumes values between 0 and 1309 for birthrate changes in fungi between 2.5 and 5. As the birth rate of fungi decreases and tends towards 2.5 the carrying capacity of fungi decreases significantly and approaches 0. The relationship between the two variables is considered to be direct; where an increment in one variable will result in the increment in the other variable. Table 2
End of preview
Want to access all the pages? Upload your documents or become a member.