Includes bibliographical references and index

The book examines fleas as a model system for understanding ecological parasitology. Fleas are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites of vertebrates, making them ideal for studying host–parasite interactions. Krasnov integrates functional, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives to explain how fleas interact with their hosts, survive, reproduce, and adapt over time.

The work progresses from descriptive ecology (what fleas do), to functional mechanisms (how they exploit hosts and environments), and finally to evolutionary explanations (why these strategies exist). By analyzing patterns such as host specificity, population structure, and parasite diversity, the book demonstrates how general ecological and evolutionary principles can be derived from flea–host systems.

Overall, it presents fleas as a powerful model for testing broader hypotheses in ecology and evolution, offering insights that extend beyond parasitology to general biological theory

http://172.20.27.22:4000/handle/123456789/146