Sprint speed is related to blood parasites, but not to ectoparasites, in an insular population of lacertid lizards

Garrido, Mario; Pérez-MelladoV.,

doi:10.1139/cjz-2013-0092

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Prevalence of infestation, estimated as the percentage of individuals infected with haemogregarines and ectoparasites, was 96.7% and 90.0%, respectively (29/30 and 27/30 individuals). These results are consistence with those found for P. lilfordi adult males in previous studies at the same location (Garrido & Pérez‐Mellado ,b, ). To estimate body condition and relative hindlimb length, we used un‐standardized residuals from linear regressions of log‐transformed body mass and hindlimb length on log‐transformed body size, respectively.…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 92%

“…We suggest that the haemogregarine loads which prevail in our population of lizards having a limited, but adequate, food supply and exposed to low levels of predation (Pérez‐Mellado & Corti ; Cooper & Pérez‐Mellado ) do not reduce fitness substantially. The fact that body condition was unrelated to either FID or DF in relation to haemogregarine load further suggests that haemogregarines may not greatly affect fitness in the studied population, as previous studies suggest (Garrido & Pérez‐Mellado ,b, ). Alternatively, enhanced thermoregulatory and feeding opportunities of large males might counteract any negative effect of the parasites.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…Therefore, no correlation was found between variables, and all of them were included in the model (see below). As shown in previous studies, ecological relationships between parasitism and body condition are complex in Aire Island, and we did not obtain any evidence to support a significant correlation between the above‐mentioned variables in the population under study (Garrido & Pérez‐Mellado ,b, ).…”

Section: Methodscontrasting

confidence: 66%

“…The increase in FID as haemogregarine load increased was consistent with a greater perceived predation risk, a minor opportunity cost of fleeing or greater prey's initial fitness at higher parasite loads. Because sprint speed decreases as haemogregarine load increases (Garrido & Pérez‐Mellado ), predation risk at a given predator–prey distance increases with load. Then, as was previously observed and as escape theory predicts, FID increased with haemogregarine load.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In lizards, sprint speed decreases as loads of blood parasite (Oppliger et al. ; Garrido & Pérez‐Mellado for the same population) and ectoparasite increase (Main & Bull ; see, however, Garrido & Pérez‐Mellado ). As a result, escape ability of the most parasitized individuals is reduced, and their own perception of risk is predicted to be greater, unless the parasites also affect cognitive processes related to predator detection or escape.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Complex Relationships amongst Parasite Load and Escape Behaviour in an Insular Lizard

2014

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Economic escape models predict escape decisions of prey which are approached by predators. Flight initiation distance (FID, predator–prey distance when prey begins to flee) and distance fled (DF) are major variables used to characterize escape responses. In optimal escape theory, FID increases as cost of not fleeing also increases. Moreover, FID decreases as cost of fleeing increases, due to lost opportunities to perform activities that may increase fitness. Finally, FID further increases as the prey's fitness increases. Some factors, including parasitism, may affect more than one of these predictors of FID. Initially, parasitized prey may have lower fitness as well as impaired locomotor ability, which would avoid predation and/or reduce their foraging ability, further decreasing the opportunity of fleeing. For example, if parasites decrease body condition, prey fitness is reduced and escape ability may be impaired. Hence, the overall influence of parasitism on FID is difficult to predict. We examined relationships between escape decisions and different traits: parasite load, body size and body condition in the Balearic lizard, Podarcis lilfordi. Lizards that showed higher haemogregarines load had longer FID and shorter DF. Although results did not confirm our initial predictions made on the basis of optimal escape theory, our findings suggest that parasites can alter several aspects of escape behaviour in a complex way.

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Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Methodscontrasting

confidence: 66%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Complex Relationships amongst Parasite Load and Escape Behaviour in an Insular Lizard

2014

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Host sex, size, and hemoparasite infection influence the effects of ectoparasitic burdens on free‐ranging iguanas

Knapp

Perez-Heydrich

Zachariah³

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Investigations focusing on host–ectoparasite interactions in animals have revealed asymptomatic to severe health and fitness consequences suggesting that species mobilize different interspecific response mechanisms. Fewer studies, however, have examined intraspecific responses to ectoparasitic burdens. In this study, we analyzed host health and fitness responses to increasing ectoparasite burdens along with the presence/absence of hemoparasites of free‐ranging insular rock iguanas ( Cyclura cychlura ) in The Bahamas. Using hematology, plasma biochemistry, as well as body condition and growth rate comparisons, we failed to find significant associations of tick burdens with annual growth rate, corticosterone, packed cell volume, total white blood cell, and heterophil, monocyte, eosinophil or hemoglobin measures. We did, however, find mixed and significant associations of tick burdens with lymphocyte and basophil counts, heterophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratios, and body condition indices. These associations varied by sex, size, and hemoparasite infection status suggesting that different life stages of iguanas may invest differently in immune responses, and impacts may be modulated based on size and sex of hosts, and coinfection status.

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Experimental removal of nematode parasites increases growth, sprint speed, and mating success in brown anole lizards

et al. 2022

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Parasites interact with nearly all free-living organisms and can impose substantial fitness costs by reducing host survival, mating success, and fecundity. Parasites may also indirectly affect host fitness by reducing growth and performance. However, experimentally characterizing these costs of parasitism is challenging in the wild because common antiparasite drug formulations require repeated dosing that is difficult to implement in free-living populations, and because the extended-release formulations that are commercially available for livestock and pets are not suitable for smaller animals. To address these challenges, we developed a method for the long-term removal of nematode parasites from brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei) using an extended-release formulation of the antiparasite drug ivermectin. This treatment eliminated two common nematode parasites in captive adult males and dramatically reduced the prevalence and intensity of infection by these parasites in wild adult males and females. Experimental parasite removal significantly increased the sprint speed of captive adult males, the mating success of wild adult males, and the growth of wild juveniles of both sexes. Although parasite removal did not have any effect on survival in wild anoles, parasites may influence fitness directly through reduced mating success and indirectly through reduced growth and performance.Our method of long-term parasite manipulation via an extended-release formulation of ivermectin should be readily adaptable to many other small vertebrates, facilitating experimental tests of the extent to which parasites affect host phenotypes, fitness, and eco-evolutionary dynamics in the wild.

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Sprint speed is related to blood parasites, but not to ectoparasites, in an insular population of lacertid lizards

Cited by 16 publications

References 58 publications

Complex Relationships amongst Parasite Load and Escape Behaviour in an Insular Lizard

Complex Relationships amongst Parasite Load and Escape Behaviour in an Insular Lizard

Host sex, size, and hemoparasite infection influence the effects of ectoparasitic burdens on free‐ranging iguanas

Experimental removal of nematode parasites increases growth, sprint speed, and mating success in brown anole lizards

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