**Group 4**

======Invasive species, parasites and intraguild predation  ======

Wiki site of the practical exercise of the [[http://www.ictp-saifr.org/mathbio4|IV Southern-Summer School on Mathematical Biology]].

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{{   http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Harmonia_axyridis01.jpg/220px-Harmonia_axyridis01.jpg}}

===== Introduction =====

The predator [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonia_axyridis|harlequin ladybird]] has been introduced as a pest control in many parts of the world, but became a pest itself. These beetles proved to be very sucessful invaders that outcompete local species of ladybirds in North America and Europe. 

Vilcinskas //et al//. (2013) proposed that harlequins carry high loads of a parasitic fungus that does not harm them seriously. Nevertheless, the fungus is highly noxious to native species of ladybirds that got infected as they attack harlequin's eggs, imatures and adults.

===== Assignment =====

Propose a model of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intraguild_predation|intraguild predation]] to describe the effects proposed by Vilcinkas //et al//. (2013).

==== Suggested questions ====
  * Is coexistence of intraguild predators posible?
  * Does the proposed effect of invasive harlequins always impairs coexistence?
  * Should the dynamics of the transmission of fungus be included in the model?

=====References=====
  * Vilcinskas, A., Stoecker, K., Schmidtberg, H., Röhrich, C. R., & Vogel, H. (2013). Invasive harlequin ladybird carries biological weapons against native competitors. Science, 340(6134), 862-863. [[http://www.sciencemag.org/content/340/6134/862|link]]
  * Vilcinskas, A., Stoecker, K., Schmidtberg, H., Röhrich, C. R., & Vogel, H. (2013). Response to Comments on “Invasive Harlequin Ladybird Carries Biological Weapons Against Native Competitors”. Science, 341(6152), 1342-1342. [[http://www.sciencemag.org/content/341/6152/1342.5.abstract|link]]

===== Group results =====
  * {{:2015:groups:g4:group_4.pptx|}}