Trade-offs between reproduction and behavioural resistance against ectoparasite infection

Horn, Collin J.; Luong, Lien T.

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113524

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Female flies also exhibited higher levels of activity upon exposure to a mite, but they managed to sustain the increased activity even after becoming infected, suggesting that females are able to better tolerate the costs of infection than males. Larger flies may be more resistant to infection, and female D. nigrospiracula are larger than males (Horn and Luong 2021). Females infected with three mites appear to increase their activity level somewhat, suggesting a slight increase in propensity or motivation to disperse.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of infection status and parasitism risk on host dispersal and susceptibility to infection inDrosophila nigrospiracula

Brophy

Luong

2021

Parasitology

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For many organisms, habitat avoidance provides the first line of defence against parasitic infection. Changes in infection status can shift the cost-benefit ratio of remaining in a given habitat vs dispersing. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the propensity to disperse in Drosophila nigrospiracula is mediated by current parasite load and the risk of further infection by an ectoparasitic mite (Macrocheles subbadius). An activity monitor was used to assess dispersal propensity among infected and uninfected flies. The activity level of uninfected females increased threefold upon exposure to a mite, whereas the activity among uninfected males increased by 17-fold in the presence of a questing mite. Among infected flies, the risk of further infection also generated a change in activity, but the magnitude of the response was dependent on host sex. Current infection status influenced the probability of acquiring more parasites due to increased susceptibility to infection with mite load. The probability of acquiring additional mites among males increased more rapidly compared to female flies. Current infection status can potentially determine the risk of further infection, the host propensity and ability to disperse, with consequence for hosts and parasites at the individual, population and species level.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of infection status and parasitism risk on host dispersal and susceptibility to infection inDrosophila nigrospiracula

Brophy

Luong

2021

Parasitology

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“…D. nigrospiracula and M. subbadius cultures were founded from wild-caught organisms from necrotic Carnegiae gigantea in the Sonoran Desert (Arizona, USA). Cultures are fully described in Horn and Luong ( 2021 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ectoparasitic mites exert non-consumptive effects on the larvae of a fruit fly host

et al. 2023

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The mere presence of predators or parasites can negatively impact the fitness of prey or hosts. Exposure to predators during an organism's development can have deleterious effects on juvenile survival and the subsequent adult stage. Currently, it is unknown if parasites have analogous impacts on host larval stages and whether these effects carry over into other subsequent life stages. However, parasites may be exerting widespread yet underestimated non-consumptive effects (NCEs). We tested if Drosophila nigrospiracula larvae avoid pupating near mite cues (caged Macrocheles subbadius) in arena experiments, and measured the rate of pupation in arenas with mites and arenas without mites. Larvae disproportionately pupated on the side of arenas that lacked mite cues. Furthermore, fewer larvae successfully pupated in arenas containing mites cues compared to arenas without mite cues. We found that ectoparasitic mites exert NCEs on Drosophila larvae, even though the larval stage is not susceptible to infection. We discuss these results in the context of parasite impacts on host population growth in an infectious world.

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Parasites and the ecology of fear: Nonconsumptive effects of ectoparasites on larvae reduce growth in simulated Drosophila populations

Horn,

Luong,

Visscher

2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Predators negatively affect prey outside of direct attack, and these nonconsumptive effects (NCEs) may cause over half the impacts of predators on prey populations. This “ecology of fear” framework has been extended to host–parasite interactions. The NCEs of parasites are thought to be small relative to those of predators. However, recent research shows ectoparasites exert NCEs on multiple life stages of Drosophila. In this study, we apply recent data to a matrix‐based model of fly populations experiencing infection/consumption and NCEs from an ectoparasitic mite. We found the NCEs of parasites on larvae, which are not actively parasitized, decreased the size of simulated host populations. By contrast, the NCEs on adult flies increased population size through compensatory egg production. The negative NCEs on larvae outweighed the positive effects on adults to reduce population size. This study suggests that parasitic NCEs can suppress host populations independent of infection.

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Trade-offs between reproduction and behavioural resistance against ectoparasite infection

Cited by 8 publications

References 61 publications

The influence of infection status and parasitism risk on host dispersal and susceptibility to infection inDrosophila nigrospiracula

The influence of infection status and parasitism risk on host dispersal and susceptibility to infection inDrosophila nigrospiracula

Ectoparasitic mites exert non-consumptive effects on the larvae of a fruit fly host

Parasites and the ecology of fear: Nonconsumptive effects of ectoparasites on larvae reduce growth in simulated Drosophila populations

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