Effects of life-history traits on parasitism in a monogamous mammal, the eastern rock sengi (Elephantulus myurus) |
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Authors: | Lutermann Heike Medger Katarina Horak Ivan G |
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Institution: | (1) Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa;(2) Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa |
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Abstract: | The distribution of parasites is often characterised by substantial aggregation with a small proportion of hosts harbouring
the majority of parasites. This pattern can be generated by abiotic and biotic factors that affect hosts and determine host
exposure and susceptibility to parasites. Climate factors can change a host’s investment in life-history traits (e.g. growth,
reproduction) generating temporal patterns of parasite aggregation. Similarly, host age may affect such investment. Furthermore,
sex-biased parasitism is common among vertebrates and has been linked to sexual dimorphism in morphology, behaviour and physiology.
Studies exploring sex-biased parasitism have been almost exclusively conducted on polygynous species where dimorphic traits
are often correlated. We investigated the effects of season and life-history traits on tick loads of the monogamous eastern
rock sengi (Elephantulus myurus). We found larger tick burdens during the non-breeding season possibly as a result of energetic constraints and/or climate
effects on the tick. Reproductive investment resulted in increased larval abundance for females but not males and may be linked
to sex-specific life-history strategies. The costs of reproduction could also explain the observed age effect with yearling
individuals harbouring lower larval burdens than adults. Although adult males had the greatest larval tick loads, host sex
appears to play a minor role in generating the observed parasite heterogeneities. Our study suggests that reproductive investment
plays a major role for parasite patterns in the study species. |
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