Foraging efficiency and parasite risk in eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus)

Garnick, Sarah; Elgar, Mark A.; Beveridge, Ian; Coulson, Geoff

doi:10.1093/beheco/arp162

Cited by 30 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Macropus giganteus has a peak in births over summer. At Serendip, M. giganteus avoids patches of forage contaminated with the faeces of conspecifics to reduce the risk of acquiring gastrointestinal parasite larvae [13]. Potential predators at the site include red foxes, Vulpes vulpes, and domestic dogs, Canis familiaris.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This gregarious species forages in open grassy areas, where females carrying large pouch young and young that have recently left the pouch permanently, are particularly vulnerable to predators [12]. Foraging individuals are also at risk of infection by intestinal parasites, if they feed on forage contaminated by infective larvae, and so may reduce this risk by avoiding patches of forage contaminated with the faeces of conspecifics [13]. Any changes in foraging rates may have implications for the acquisition of intestinal parasites [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experimental manipulation of fertility reveals potential lactation costs in a free-ranging marsupial

et al. 2011

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Lactation is the most energetically expensive component of reproduction in mammals. Theory predicts that reproducing females will adjust their behaviour to compensate for increased nutritional demands. However, experimental tests are required, since comparisons of the behaviour of naturally reproducing and nonreproducing females cannot distinguish between true costs of reproduction, individual differences or seasonal variation. We experimentally manipulated reproduction in free-ranging, eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), using a fertility control agent. Our novel field experiment revealed that females altered their behaviour in direct response to the energetic demands of reproduction: reproducing females increased bite rates, and thus food intake, when the energetic demands of lactation were highest. Reproducing females did not reduce the time spent on vigilance for predators, but increased their forage intake on faecal-contaminated pasture, thereby increasing the risk of infection by gastrointestinal parasites-a largely unrecognized potential cost of reproduction.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental manipulation of fertility reveals potential lactation costs in a free-ranging marsupial

et al. 2011

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“…First, animals behave differently or modify other traits, such as their life histories, to avoid infection in parasite-ridden environments. For example, animals trade off between exposure to parasites and other vital activities (e.g., foraging and avoiding predation; Garnick et al 2010). Second, after being infected, animals may adjust their behavior, physiology, and other traits to fight against the parasite and limit its pathogenic effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ant Societies Buffer Individual-Level Effects of Parasite Infections

Scharf

Modlmeier

Beros

et al. 2012

The American Naturalist

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Parasites decrease host fitness and can induce changes in host behavior, morphology, and physiology. When parasites exploit social insects, they influence not only infected individuals but also the society as a whole. Workers of the ant Temnothorax nylanderi are an intermediate host for the cestode Anomotaenia brevis. We studied a heavily parasitized population and found that, although parasite infection had strong and diverse consequences for individual workers, colony fitness remained unchanged. At the individual level, we uncovered differences among the three worker types, infected and healthy workers from parasitized colonies and healthy workers from nonparasitized colonies. Infected workers were smaller than healthy ones and had smaller heads as parasite load increased. Behavioral changes extended to all workers from parasitized colonies; such workers were less active than workers in nonparasitized colonies but engaged in more grooming. Healthy workers from parasitized colonies showed behavioral patterns intermediate to those of infected workers and healthy workers from nonparasitized colonies. Despite the lower activity level found in ants from parasitized colonies, an important fitness parameter, per-worker productivity, remained unaltered in parasitized colonies. However, the investment strategies of parasitized colonies changed as their sex ratio became male biased and as male body size increased. In short, ant colonies can buffer the drain of resources by the parasite despite strong effects on individual workers.

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“…2000; wild antelopes: Ezenwa 2004; chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra : Fankhauser et al. 2008; exceptions: primates: Freeland 1980; macropodids: Garnick et al. 2010).…”

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confidence: 99%

Faecal avoidance and selective foraging: do wild mice have the luxury to avoid faeces?

2013

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Host–parasite interactions are a key determinant of the population dynamics of wild animals, and behaviours that reduce parasite transmission and infection may be important for improving host fitness. While antiparasite behaviours have been demonstrated in laboratory animals and domesticated ungulates, whether these behaviours operate in the wild is poorly understood. Therefore, examining antiparasite behaviours in natural populations is crucial for understanding their ecological significance. In this study, we examined whether two wild rodents (white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, and deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus), selectively foraged away from conspecific faeces or avoided faeces altogether, and whether faecal gastrointestinal parasite status affected their behaviour. We also tested whether wild mice, when nesting, avoided using material that had previously been used by healthy or parasite-infected conspecifics. Our results, in contrast to laboratory mouse studies, suggest that wild mice do not demonstrate faecal avoidance, selective foraging or selective use of nesting material; they preferred being near faeces and did not differentiate between faeces from parasitized and uninfected conspecifics. Behavioural avoidance to reduce parasite infection may still represent an important strategy; however, mice in our study population appeared to favour the opportunity to feed and nest over the risks of coming into contact with faecal-transmitted parasites. Furthermore, the presence of conspecific faeces may actually provide a positive cue of a good foraging or nesting location. Ultimately, balancing the trade-off of performing antiparasite behaviours to reduce infection with missing an important feeding or nesting opportunity may be very different for animals in the wild facing complex and stochastic environments.

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Foraging efficiency and parasite risk in eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus)

Cited by 30 publications

References 66 publications

Experimental manipulation of fertility reveals potential lactation costs in a free-ranging marsupial

Experimental manipulation of fertility reveals potential lactation costs in a free-ranging marsupial

Ant Societies Buffer Individual-Level Effects of Parasite Infections

Faecal avoidance and selective foraging: do wild mice have the luxury to avoid faeces?

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