Infection of parthenogenetic lizards by blood parasites does not support the “Red Queen hypothesis” but reveals the costs of sex

Arakelyan, Marine; Harutyunyan, T. A.; Aghayan, Sargis A.; Carretero, Miguel Á.

doi:10.1016/j.zool.2019.125709

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…However, the demographic advantage of asexual populations (Maynard Smith 1971), the existence of lineages known to be reproducing solely asexually for millions of years (Judson and Normark 1996; but see Schwander 2016), the lack of associated costs to asexuality (in the specific case of Darevskia : Arakelyan et al. 2019), and the potential of asexuals to occupy more diverse habitats than their sexual relatives (in Darevskia : Tarkhnishvili et al. 2010) indicate that a complementary explanation for the scarcity of asexual lineages is needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sexual reproduction is widespread in nature, and its higher potential for adaptation is generally considered to explain its prevalence over asexual reproduction (McDonald et al 2016;Luijckx et al 2017). However, the demographic advantage of asexual populations (Maynard Smith 1971), the existence of lineages known to be reproducing solely asexually for millions of years (Judson and Normark 1996;but see Schwander 2016), the lack of associated costs to asexuality (in the specific case of Darevskia: Arakelyan et al 2019), and the potential of asexuals to occupy more diverse habitats than their sexual relatives (in Darevskia: Tarkhnishvili et al 2010) indicate that a complementary explanation for the scarcity of asexual lineages is needed. If the conditions that lead to the origin of asexual lineages are very particular, this could be a major restriction acting on the source of new asexual individuals and another factor to consider regarding the ubiquity of sexual reproduction in nature (Vrijenhoek 1989;Schwander and Crespi 2009).…”

Section: Gene Flow Parthenogenesis and Reproductive Barriers In Diver...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Parthenogenesis in Darevskia lizards: A rare outcome of common hybridization, not a common outcome of rare hybridization

et al. 2022

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Hybridization is a common evolutionary process with multiple possible outcomes. In vertebrates, interspecific hybridization has repeatedly generated parthenogenetic hybrid species. However, it is unknown whether the generation of parthenogenetic hybrids is a rare outcome of frequent hybridization between sexual species within a genus or the typical outcome of rare hybridization events. Darevskia is a genus of rock lizards with both hybrid parthenogenetic and sexual species. Using capture sequencing, we estimate phylogenetic relationships and gene flow among the sexual species, to determine how introgressive hybridization relates to the origins of parthenogenetic hybrids. We find evidence for widespread hybridization with gene flow, both between recently diverged species and deep branches. Surprisingly, we find no signal of gene flow between parental species of the parthenogenetic hybrids, suggesting that the parental pairs were either reproductively or geographically isolated early in their divergence. The generation of parthenogenetic hybrids in Darevskia is, then, a rare outcome of the total occurrence of hybridization within the genus, but the typical outcome when specific species pairs hybridize. Our results question the conventional view that parthenogenetic lineages are generated by hybridization in a window of divergence. Instead, they suggest that some lineages possess specific properties that underpin successful parthenogenetic reproduction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Gene Flow Parthenogenesis and Reproductive Barriers In Diver...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Parthenogenesis in Darevskia lizards: A rare outcome of common hybridization, not a common outcome of rare hybridization

et al. 2022

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“…These results were similar to some other findings in lizards (e.g. Álvarez-Ruiz et al ., 2018; Arakelyan et al ., 2019) and could be due to behavioural differences between sexes, with males exhibiting riskier behaviour, thus encountering more parasite vectors and infected conspecifics (Zuk and McKean, 1996; Barrientos and Megía-Palma, 2021). Besides that, male lacertids have larger home ranges, which will make them more exposed to parasite vectors (Wieczorek et al ., 2020; Sillero et al ., 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the same time, the negative effect of blood parasites in lizard hosts is puzzling because while some previous studies indicated negative effects associated with the infection (Lazić et al ., 2017; Megía-Palma et al ., 2020 a ), others showed neutral or even positive correlation between parasitism intensity and fitness-related traits (Amo et al ., 2004; Ekner-Grzyb et al ., 2013; Damas-Moreira et al ., 2014; Megía-Palma et al ., 2016). Moreover, parasite intensity is also modulated with other life-history traits, such as host sex and size (Schall, 1992; Smallridge and Bull, 2000; Álvarez-Ruiz et al ., 2018; Arakelyan et al ., 2019), reproductive effort (Veiga et al ., 1998), host body and physiological condition (Salvador et al ., 1996), habitat type (Carbayo et al ., 2019), host density (Arneberg et al ., 1998) and environmental stress (Oppliger et al ., 1996, 1998; Megía-Palma et al ., 2020 b ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shared haemogregarine infections in competing lacertids

et al. 2021

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In parasite–host interactions host species may differ in their ability to fight parasitic infections, while other ecological interactions, including competition, may differentially alter their physiological state, making them even more susceptible to parasites. In this study, we analyse the haemogregarine blood parasites infecting two competing lizard species, Iberolacerta horvathi and Podarcis muralis, and explore host–parasite relationships under different host competition scenarios. Both species were infected with haemogregarine parasites belonging to the genus Karyolysus. Using the 18S rRNA gene, six new Karyolysus haplotypes were identified clustering with other Central and Eastern European samples, and widely shared between both lizard hosts. Haemogregarine infections were detected at all sampled sites with over 50% of individuals parasitized. Overall, I. horvathi was more frequently and also more intensely parasitized than P. muralis, with higher infection rates observed in syntopy. Males of both species tended to be more frequently infected and showed a higher infection intensity than conspecific females. The results suggest that parasitisation by haemogregarines may be relevant in the dynamics of the competitive relationship between these lizard species. More studies, including immunological response analysis, and the identification of the vectors are needed to better understand host–parasite relationships and competition.

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“…Recent research found that host density, island age, and vector prevalence are important predictors of blood parasite prevalence across insular populations of lizards (Ferreira et al., 2023; Fornberg & Semegen, 2021). High parasite prevalence might be explained by high transmission rates in highly dense host populations (Arakelyan et al., 2019; Buckley & Jetz, 2007). While some island parasites can exhibit relatively lower genetic diversity compared to mainland (Magnanou & Morand, 2006; Pérez‐Rodríguez, Ramírez, et al., 2013), others show the opposite trend (e.g., intestinal coccidia: Illera et al., 2015; helminths: Jorge et al., 2018; hematic coccidia: Tomé et al., 2018, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lizard host abundances and climatic factors explain phylogenetic diversity and prevalence of blood parasites on an oceanic island

Megía‐Palma,

Palomar,

Martínez

et al. 2024

Molecular Ecology

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Host abundance might favour the maintenance of a high phylogenetic diversity of some parasites via rapid transmission rates. Blood parasites of insular lizards represent a good model to test this hypothesis because these parasites can be particularly prevalent in islands and host lizards highly abundant. We applied deep amplicon sequencing and analysed environmental predictors of blood parasite prevalence and phylogenetic diversity in the endemic lizard Gallotia galloti across 24 localities on Tenerife, an island in the Canary archipelago that has experienced increasing warming and drought in recent years. Parasite prevalence assessed by microscopy was over 94%, and a higher proportion of infected lizards was found in warmer and drier locations. A total of 33 different 18s rRNA parasite haplotypes were identified, and the phylogenetic analyses indicated that they belong to two genera of Adeleorina (Apicomplexa: Coccidia), with Karyolysus as the dominant genus. The most important predictor of between‐locality variation in parasite phylogenetic diversity was the abundance of lizard hosts. We conclude that a combination of climatic and host demographic factors associated with an insular syndrome may be favouring a rapid transmission of blood parasites among lizards on Tenerife, which may favour the maintenance of a high phylogenetic diversity of parasites.

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Infection of parthenogenetic lizards by blood parasites does not support the “Red Queen hypothesis” but reveals the costs of sex

Cited by 9 publications

References 51 publications

Parthenogenesis in Darevskia lizards: A rare outcome of common hybridization, not a common outcome of rare hybridization

Parthenogenesis in Darevskia lizards: A rare outcome of common hybridization, not a common outcome of rare hybridization

Shared haemogregarine infections in competing lacertids

Lizard host abundances and climatic factors explain phylogenetic diversity and prevalence of blood parasites on an oceanic island

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