Spatiotemporal variation in drivers of parasitism in a wild wood mouse population

Sweeny, Amy R.; Albery, Gregory F.; Venkatesan, Saudamini; Fenton, Andrew K.; Pedersen, Amy B.

doi:10.1101/2020.05.16.099481

Cited by 10 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Therefore, whether environmental conditions directly affect parasite abundance and diversity is still debated (e.g. Sweeny et al ., 2021). Here, a correlation between parasite community composition and DO was observed in both species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Context-dependent parasite infection affects trophic niche in populations of sympatric stickleback species

et al. 2022

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How parasites alter host feeding ecology remains elusive in natural populations. A powerful approach to investigate the link between infection and feeding ecology is quantifying unique and shared responses to parasite infection in related host species within a common environment. Here, 9 pairs of sympatric populations of the three-spined and nine-spined stickleback fishes were sampled across a range of freshwater and brackish habitats to investigate how parasites alter host feeding ecology: (i) biotic and abiotic determinants of parasite community composition, and (ii) to what extent parasite infection correlates with trophic niche specialization of the 2 species, using stable isotope analyses (δ15N and δ13C). It was determined that parasite community composition and host parasite load varied among sites and species and were correlated with dissolved oxygen. It was also observed that the digenean Cyathocotyle sp.'s abundance, a common directly infecting parasite with a complex life cycle, correlated with host δ13C in a fish species-specific manner. In 6 sites, correlations were found between parasite abundance and their hosts' feeding ecology. These effects were location-specific and occasionally host species or host size-specific. Overall, the results suggest a relationship between parasite infection and host trophic niche which may be an important and largely overlooked ecological factor. The population specificity and variation in parasite communities also suggest this effect is multifarious and context-dependent.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Context-dependent parasite infection affects trophic niche in populations of sympatric stickleback species

et al. 2022

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“…The addition of multivariate mixed models to larger-scale and longer-term studies could also allow researchers to go further and address the role that annual variation in environmental conditions (by e.g. random effect for year; Froy et al ., 2019; Sweeny et al ., 2021); host genetics ( via pedigree-based ‘animal models’; Beraldi et al ., 2006) and spatial structure (through inclusion of spatial field random terms; Albery et al ., 2019) play in driving the patterns of co-infection in the wild.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal dynamics of co-infecting gastrointestinal parasites in a wild sheep population

et al. 2022

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Within-year variation in infection is a ubiquitous feature of natural populations, but is determined by a complex interplay of environmental, parasitological and host factors. At the same time, co-infection is the norm in the wild. Longitudinal dynamics of co-infecting parasites may therefore be further complicated by covariation across multiple parasites. Here, we used fecal parasite egg and oocyst counts collected repeatedly from individually marked wild Soay sheep to investigate seasonal dynamics of six gastrointestinal parasite groups. Prevalence and abundance tended to be higher in spring and summer, and abundance was higher in lambs compared to adults. We found that within-year variation in highly prevalent strongyle nematode counts was dependent on adult reproductive status, where reproductive ewes had distinct dynamics compared to males and barren ewes. For similarly prevalent coccidia we found an overall peak in oocyst counts in spring but no differences among males, barren and pregnant ewes. Using multivariate mixed-effects models, we further show that apparent positive correlation between strongyle and coccidia counts was driven by short-term within-individual changes in both counts rather than long-term among-individual covariation. Overall, these results demonstrate that seasonality varies across demographic and parasite groups and highlight the value of investigating co-infection dynamics over time.

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“…The “shaded” woodlot habitat is sheltered from the sun, more humid and likely colder than the open one. Although it can be highly variable in time and space (Sweeny et al ., 2021), infections are often dependent on abiotic parameters, including temperature and humidity, leading to seasonality (Altizer et al ., 2006). Differences in nematode infection between the habitats may then be explained, at least partly, by differences in microclimate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morph-dependent nematode infection and its association with host movement in the land snail Cepaea nemoralis (Mollusca, Gastropoda)

Dahirel

Proux

Gérard

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Host behaviour can be influenced by parasitic risk and infection through a variety of direct and indirect mechanisms. We can expect individuals expressing different phenotypes to also differ in the ways their behaviour is altered by parasites. We used the land snail Cepaea nemoralis, a species with various shell colour morphs differing in behaviour and physiology, as a model to study the link between parasite response and individual behaviour variation. We analysed metazoan parasite abundance and its relation to behaviour (movement and food intake) in snails from three shell morphs (from light unbanded to darker five-banded) and from two neighbouring populations from contrasted environments. Snails were parasitized by mites, trematodes and nematodes, from rarest to most frequent. We confirm that terrestrial gastropods can defend against infection by trapping parasitic nematodes in their shell. We show that nematode encapsulation can uncover past infections even when a population is currently nematode-free, possibly due to parasite seasonality. We present new observations suggesting that not only nematodes but also mites might be encapsulated in shells. Vulnerability to parasites was morph-dependent, with darker snails harbouring fewer nematodes. Behaviour (movement and food intake) was dependent on nematode, but not trematode infection. Individuals with higher nematode load ate less, irrespective of morph and population. The morph that was most vulnerable to parasitism (unbanded snails) showed reduced activity in the nematode-infected population compared to the one that was nematode-free at sampling time. As a result, parasite risk may cancel previously described behavioural differences between morphs. We discuss the possible mechanisms explaining morph-dependent responses to parasites, and how parasite risk may be an unseen force shaping Cepaea nemoralis morph variation in space and time. We conclude on the possible ecological consequences of the link, mediated by shell colour, between thermal and immune responses.

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Spatiotemporal variation in drivers of parasitism in a wild wood mouse population

Cited by 10 publications

References 53 publications

Context-dependent parasite infection affects trophic niche in populations of sympatric stickleback species

Context-dependent parasite infection affects trophic niche in populations of sympatric stickleback species

Longitudinal dynamics of co-infecting gastrointestinal parasites in a wild sheep population

Morph-dependent nematode infection and its association with host movement in the land snail Cepaea nemoralis (Mollusca, Gastropoda)

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