Reduced tail regeneration in the Common Lizard, <i>Lacerta vivipara</i>, parasitized by blood parasites

Oppliger, Anne; Clobert, Jean

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2435.1997.00134.x

Cited by 65 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…On the other hand, gravid females may adopt cryptic behaviours and thus lower their susceptibility to predation [55]. Regardless of the lack of effect on female reproduction, our results strongly suggest that females were able to identify predator cues: not only did females lower their food intake (a classic antipredator response; E. Bestion, J. Cucherousset, A. Teyssier, J. Cote 2012, unpublished data) and grew longer tails than unexposed females (a costly antipredator strategy in lizards [56]; see the electronic supplementary material, S2), but also produced offspring with altered phenotypes. Females exposed to predator cues during gestation produced offspring with longer tails relative to their body.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Maternal exposure to predator scents: offspring phenotypic adjustment and dispersal

et al. 2014

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Predation is a strong selective pressure generating morphological, physiological and behavioural responses in organisms. As predation risk is often higher during juvenile stages, antipredator defences expressed early in life are paramount to survival. Maternal effects are an efficient pathway to produce such defences. We investigated whether maternal exposure to predator cues during gestation affected juvenile morphology, behaviour and dispersal in common lizards (Zootoca vivipara). We exposed 21 gravid females to saurophagous snake cues for one month while 21 females remained unexposed (i.e. control). We measured body size, preferred temperature and activity level for each neonate, and released them into semi-natural enclosures connected to corridors in order to measure dispersal. Offspring from exposed mothers grew longer tails, selected lower temperatures and dispersed thrice more than offspring from unexposed mothers. Because both tail autotomy and altered thermoregulatory behaviour are common antipredator tactics in lizards, these results suggest that mothers adjusted offspring phenotype to risky natal environments (tail length) or increased risk avoidance (dispersal). Although maternal effects can be passive consequences of maternal stress, our results strongly militate for them to be an adaptive antipredator response that may increase offspring survival prospects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Maternal exposure to predator scents: offspring phenotypic adjustment and dispersal

et al. 2014

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“…The intensity of infection in females seemed to increase in summer. Previous studies have demonstrated that an increase in reproductive effort decreases parasite defense and, thus, increases parasite load (Gustafsson et al 1994;Oppliger and Clobert 1997;Fargallo and Merino 2004). Therefore, females may need to reallocate most of resources in pregnancy, and assume the cost of a higher parasite infection during this period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and intensity of haemogregarinid blood parasites in a population of the Iberian rock lizard, Lacerta monticola

2004

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The study of the effect of parasites on their host populations is essential for understanding their role in host population dynamics and ecology. We describe the general field population biology of haemogregarines in the Iberian rock lizard, Lacerta monticola, examining the factors that determine the prevalence and intensity of infection. Prevalence and infection intensity were higher in adults than in juvenile lizards. The prevalence rate was higher in larger lizards, probably because they were also older and had been more often in contact with parasites during their lifetime. During the mating season, the intensity of parasite infection was greater in males than in females, probably due to immunosuppressive effects of testosterone. The parasite load had a negative effect on the body condition during the reproductive season. The results suggest that the interactions between parasites and hosts are not stable in this lizard population.

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“…We tested this hypothesis with the Canarian endemic lizard, Gallotia galloti, and its blood parasite, a member of the haemogregarine genus. Physiological costs to parasitism by haemogregarines have been demonstrated in another lizard species Lacerta vivipara (Oppliger et al, 1996;Oppliger & Clobert, 1997). For example, infection with haemogregarines reduces haemoglobin concentration, lowers locomotor speed and reduces the rate of tail regeneration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasite local maladaptation in the Canarian lizard Gallotia galloti (Reptilia: Lacertidae) parasitized by haemogregarian blood parasite

Oppliger

Vernet

Báez

1999

Journal of Evolutionary Biology

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Biologists commonly assume that parasites are locally adapted since they have shorter generation times and higher fecundity than their hosts, and therefore evolve faster in the arms race against the host's defences. As a result, parasites should be better able to infect hosts within their local population than hosts from other allopatric populations. However, recent mathematical modelling has demonstrated that when hosts have higher migration rates than parasites, hosts may diversify their genes faster than parasites and thus parasites may become locally maladapted. This new model was tested on the Canarian endemic lizard and its blood parasite (haemogregarine genus). In this host–parasite system, hosts migrate more than parasites since lizard offspring typically disperse from their natal site soon after hatching and without any contact with their parents who are potential carriers of the intermediate vector of the blood parasite (a mite). Results of cross‐infection among three lizard populations showed that parasites were better at infecting individuals from allopatric populations than individuals from their sympatric population. This suggests that, in this host–parasite system, the parasites are locally maladapted to their host.

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Reduced tail regeneration in the Common Lizard, Lacerta vivipara, parasitized by blood parasites

Cited by 65 publications

References 25 publications

Maternal exposure to predator scents: offspring phenotypic adjustment and dispersal

Maternal exposure to predator scents: offspring phenotypic adjustment and dispersal

Prevalence and intensity of haemogregarinid blood parasites in a population of the Iberian rock lizard, Lacerta monticola

Parasite local maladaptation in the Canarian lizard Gallotia galloti (Reptilia: Lacertidae) parasitized by haemogregarian blood parasite

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