Biodiversity and evolution in host-parasite associations

Evolutionary relationships in heterospecific associations (parasitoidism, parasitism, commensalism and mutualism) are analysed through a game theory model defined in terms of fitness of hosts and parasites. In front of the game solutions (i.e. ESS) which present a great diversity of evolutionary patterns, we envisage co-evolution between hosts and parasites through the evolution of its two fundamental parameters (i.e. host's resistance and parasite's virulence). We then discuss the reciprocal influence of hosts and parasites on their respective biodiversity.