Hermaphrodites and parasitism: size-specific female reproduction drives infection by an ephemeral parasitic castrator
Autor: | Ryan F. Hechinger, Armand M. Kuris, Caitlin R. Fong |
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Jazyk: | angličtina |
Rok vydání: | 2019 |
Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine Male Population dynamics media_common.quotation_subject Population Dynamics Parasitism Zoology lcsh:Medicine Biology 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Article California Host-Parasite Interactions 03 medical and health sciences Barnacle Hemioniscus balani Ovarian function Hermaphrodite 2.2 Factors relating to the physical environment Animals Hermaphroditic Organisms Aetiology lcsh:Science Symbiosis Ecosystem media_common Probability Ecological epidemiology Multidisciplinary Ecology Geography Host (biology) Ephemeral key Contraception/Reproduction Reproduction lcsh:R Thoracica biology.organism_classification 030104 developmental biology Infectious Diseases lcsh:Q Female Infection Isopoda |
Zdroj: | Scientific Reports Scientific reports, vol 9, iss 1 Scientific Reports, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2019) |
ISSN: | 2045-2322 |
Popis: | Sex can influence patterns of parasitism because males and females can differ in encounter with, and susceptibility to, parasites. We investigate an isopod parasite (Hemioniscus balani) that consumes ovarian fluid, blocking female function of its barnacle host, a simultaneous hermaphrodite. As a hermaphrodite, sex is fluid, and individuals may allocate energy differentially to male versus female reproduction. We predicted the relationship between barnacle size and female reproductive function influences the distribution of parasites within barnacle populations. We surveyed 12 populations spanning ~400 km of coastline of southern California and found intermediate-sized barnacles where most likely to be actively functioning as females. While it is unclear why larger individuals are less likely to be actively reproducing as females, we suggest this reduced likelihood is driven by increased investment in male reproductive effort at larger sizes. The female function-size relationship was mirrored by the relationship between size and parasitism. We suggest parasitism by Hemioniscus balani imposes a cost to female function, reinforcing the lack of investment in female function by the largest individuals. Within the subset of suitable (=female) hosts, infection probability increased with size. Hence, the distribution of female function, combined with selection for larger hosts, primarily dictated patterns of infection. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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