Density-dependent distributions of hosts and parasitoids resulting from density-independent dispersal rules: implications for host–parasitoid interactions and population dynamics

The stochastic model revealed that density-dependent distributions of hosts and parasitoids emerge when individuals disperse in a density-independent manner, significantly impacting existing host-parasitoid theory, which assumes density-independent distributions. To address this, the implications of emerging density dependencies for well-known results, such as the pseudointerference of parasitoids and the CV² > 1 rule, were discussed. Explicitly considering individual-level dispersal behavior is essential for understanding host-parasitoid interactions and population dynamics.