Patterns of host switching in the fish ectoparasite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Argulus coregoni</Emphasis> |
| |
Authors: | Matthias Bandilla Teija Hakalahti-Sirén E Tellervo Valtonen |
| |
Institution: | 1.Department of Biological and Environmental Science,University of Jyv?skyl?,University of Jyv?skyl?,Finland |
| |
Abstract: | Mating is essential for sexually reproducing species to pass on their genes. For sexual parasites, this implies a need to
switch the host in the search for a mate when potential partners are not available on the same host, although host switching
includes risks like starvation and predation. Studies of mate-searching behavior predict that commonly only one sex searches
for mating partners while the other remains stationary. In the present work, we experimentally infected rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with the fish ectoparasite Argulus coregoni and determined whether the sex, age and the presence of mating partners influenced the host switching activity. Our results
show that increased host switching by A. coregoni occurred only after the parasite reached the adult stage and a difference between the sexes was also recorded. Host switching
by mature males was enhanced when no mating partners were present on the same host, whereas females remained mainly stationary
on their host regardless of male presence or absence. Our data therefore support the hypothesis that there is a strategic
difference in reproductive behavior between males and females; males invest energy in mate searching while females are rather
stationary and invest into body size and hence increased fecundity. Our data also showed that leaving the host to find a mate
is potentially costly in terms of predation since a substantial number of free-swimming parasites were eaten by fish. |
| |
Keywords: | Host switching Mate searching Ectoparasite Predation risk Argulus coregoni |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |