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Proximity to parasites reduces host fitness independent of infection in a Drosophila–Macrocheles system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2018

Collin J. Horn Open the ORCID record for Collin J. Horn [Opens in a new window]  and
Lien T. Luong
Collin J. Horn*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, CW405 Biological Sciences Bldg., University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9Canada
Lien T. Luong
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, CW405 Biological Sciences Bldg., University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9Canada
*
Author for correspondence: Collin J. Horn, E-mail: chorn@ualberta.ca
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Abstract

Parasites are known to have direct negative effects on host fitness; however, the indirect effects of parasitism on host fitness sans infection are less well understood. Hosts undergo behavioural and physiological changes when in proximity to parasites. Yet, there is little experimental evidence showing that these changes lead to long-term decreases in host fitness. We aimed to determine if parasite exposure affects host fitness independent of contact, because current approaches to parasite ecology may underestimate the effect of parasites on host populations. We assayed the longevity and reproductive output of Drosophila nigrospiracula exposed or not exposed to ectoparasitic Macrocheles subbadius. In order to preclude contact and infection, mites and flies were permanently separated with a mesh screen. Exposed flies had shorter lives and lower fecundity relative to unexposed flies. Recent work in parasite ecology has argued that parasite–host systems show similar processes as predator–prey systems. Our findings mirror the non-consumptive effects observed in predator–prey systems, in which prey species suffer reduced fitness even if they never come into direct contact with predators. Our results support the perspective that there are analogous effects in parasite–host systems, and suggest new directions for research in both parasite ecology and the ecology of fear.

Keywords

Fruit flyhost fitnessnon-consumptive effectsparasite exposureparasite avoidanceectoparasites
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 145 , Issue 12 , October 2018 , pp. 1564 - 1569
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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