1
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Butler RA, Trout Fryxell RT, Kennedy ML, Houston AE, Bowers EK, Coons LB, Paulsen D, Baxter J. NO RELATIONSHIP OBSERVED BETWEEN HABITAT TYPE AND RICKETTSIA PRESENCE IN ECTOPARASITES COLLECTED FROM RODENTS IN SOUTHWESTERN TENNESSEE. SOUTHWEST NAT 2022. [DOI: 10.1894/0038-4909-66.3.233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. A. Butler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (RAB, MLK, EKB, LBC)
| | - R. T. Trout Fryxell
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37966 (RTTF, DP, JB)
| | - M. L. Kennedy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (RAB, MLK, EKB, LBC)
| | - A. E. Houston
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37966 (AEH)
| | - E. K. Bowers
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (RAB, MLK, EKB, LBC)
| | - L. B. Coons
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (RAB, MLK, EKB, LBC)
| | - D. Paulsen
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37966 (RTTF, DP, JB)
| | - J. Baxter
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37966 (RTTF, DP, JB)
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2
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Er-Rguibi O, Bursey CR, Laghzaoui EM, Aglagane A, Kimdil L, Abbad A, El Mouden EH. New host and locality records of helminths' infection of seven lizards from Morocco. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2537-2546. [PMID: 35798910 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07588-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Morocco has a great diversity of reptiles; more than 26% of the herpetofauna species are considered to be endemic. Nevertheless, there is little information available on helminth parasites of Moroccan lizards. The purpose of this article is to establish a helminth list using non-invasive methods for natural populations of seven lizard species: Acanthodactylus maculatus, Chalcides mionecton, Chalcides montanus, Chalcides polylepis, Quedenfeldtia moerens, Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus, and Tarentola mauritanica. For each species, prevalence and intensity of infection were given as well as their relationship to some determinant parameters (sex, age class, size, altitude, and seasons). Four species of nematodes, Parapharyngodon micipsae, Pharyngodon mamillatus, Spauligodon auziensis, Thelandros alatus, and unassigned Spauligodon were found. Mean helminth intensity for the seven lizard species was 7.3 ± 16.2 SD (range = 1-92 in infected lizards), with total infection prevalence of 5.6%. Mixed infections were observed in Chalcides montanus and Chalcides polylepis co-infected by Pharyngodon mamillatus and Spauligodon sp. Furthermore, the intensity of infection by nematodes were significantly different among the seven studied species. The nematode infection in Chalcides mionecton were related to sex, host size, and altitude; in Chalcides polylepis to the host age; in Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus to elevation, age, and host size; and in Tarentola Mauritanica to age, body size, seasons, and altitude. In conclusion, our study provides data about nine new host and locality records and the effect of some determinant factors on host parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Er-Rguibi
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
| | - Charles Robert Bursey
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Shenango Campus, Sharon, PA, 16146, USA
| | - El-Mustapha Laghzaoui
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Abdessamad Aglagane
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
| | - Latifa Kimdil
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Abdelaziz Abbad
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - El Hassan El Mouden
- Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
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3
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Álvarez-Ruiz L, Belliure J, Santos X, Pausas JG. Fire reduces parasite load in a Mediterranean lizard. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211230. [PMID: 34255996 PMCID: PMC8277473 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildfires are a natural disturbance in many ecosystems. However, their effect on biotic interactions has been poorly studied. Fire consumes the vegetation and the litter layer where many parasites spend part of their life cycles. We hypothesize that wildfires reduce habitat availability for parasites with consequent potential benefits for hosts. We tested this for the lizard Psammodromus algirus and its ectoparasites in a Mediterranean ecosystem. We predicted that lizards in recently burned areas would have lower parasite load (cleaning effect) than those in unburned areas and that this phenomenon implies that lizards spending their entire lives in postfire conditions experience a lower level of parasitism than those living in unburned areas. We compared the ectoparasite load of lizards between eight paired burned/unburned sites, including recent (less than 1 year postfire) and older fires (2-4 years). We found that lizards' ectoparasites prevalence was drastically reduced in recently burned areas. Likewise, lizards in older burned areas showed less evidence of past parasitic infections. Fire disrupted the host-parasite interaction, providing the opportunity for lizards to avoid the negative effects of ectoparasites. Our results suggest that wildfires probably fulfil a role in controlling vector-borne diseases and pathogens, and highlight ecological effects of wildfires that have been overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lola Álvarez-Ruiz
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE-CSIC), Ctra. Náquera Km 4.5, Moncada, 46113 Valencia, Spain
| | - Josabel Belliure
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Santos
- CIBIO/InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto), R. Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Juli G. Pausas
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE-CSIC), Ctra. Náquera Km 4.5, Moncada, 46113 Valencia, Spain
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4
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Argaez V, Pruett JA, Seddon RJ, Solano-Zavaleta I, Hews DK, Zúñiga-Vega JJ. Steroid hormones, ectoparasites, and color: Sex, species, and seasonal differences in Sceloporus lizards. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 304:113717. [PMID: 33476662 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone, in addition to promoting the expression of sexual ornaments can negatively affect immune function, leaving individuals more susceptible to parasites (immunocompetence handicap hypothesis). Immunosuppressive effects of testosterone also can occur indirectly, through increased glucocorticoid hormones (corticosterone, cortisol). Therefore, the expression of sexual ornaments and the ability to respond to parasites and diseases may be influenced by the interaction between testosterone and corticosterone. In this study we examined correlations of both testosterone and corticosterone with ectoparasite load and with expression of colorful sexual ornaments (patches on belly and throat) in three species of Sceloporus lizards (S. grammicus, S. megalepidurus, S. torquatus). In addition, we evaluated contributions of sex, body condition, and reproductive season. We expected that individuals with higher testosterone and lower corticosterone levels would have more colorful ornaments than individuals with higher corticosterone levels. In addition, if testosterone has negative effects on immune function but only at higher corticosterone levels, individuals with higher levels of testosterone and corticosterone should have higher ectoparasite loads. Contrary to these expectations, we did not detect an interaction between testosterone and corticosterone statistically affecting either ectoparasite load or the expression of colorful ornaments. Further, we did not find a positive association of either testosterone or corticosterone on ectoparasite loads in any of the three study species. Only in S. grammicus males was a hormone statistically associated with ectoparasite load, but it was a negative association with testosterone. The relationships between both hormones and different aspects of the colorful patches (brightness and chroma) varied drastically among the three species as well as between sexes. Hence, even among congeneric species, we did not observe consistent patterns among color, steroid hormones and ectoparasites. Different associations between these variables may reflect different physiological strategies for the production of colorful signals and immune defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Argaez
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Jake A Pruett
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK 74701, USA.
| | - Ryan J Seddon
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA.
| | - Israel Solano-Zavaleta
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Diana K Hews
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA.
| | - J Jaime Zúñiga-Vega
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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Determinants of prevalence and co-infestation by ecto- and endoparasites in the Atlas day gecko, Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus, an endemic species of Morocco. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:2543-2556. [PMID: 33748890 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07120-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The present work was undertaken to investigate the occurrence of ectoparasites (mites and ticks) and endoparasites (haemogregarines and helminths) in the Atlas day gecko, Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus (Boettger, 1874), a high-altitude Moroccan endemic lizard. The study examinated also the effect of some host parameters (age, sex, size, body condition), in addition to the season and altitude on the prevalence and intensity of parasite infestations. The study was conducted in three localities from May to September 2019. The results indicated that 35% of juvenile geckos were found to be parasited by one type of parasite. Contrarily, up to three types of parasites were detected in the adults. The prevalence of mite infestations was 48.02%, with a mean intensity of 11.80 ± 15.69. The patterns of mite infestations was found to be mainly related to the altitude, while the prevalence and intensity of infestations were linked to the host size, and to the sex and season, respectively. Larvae and nymphs of Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758) were the only life stages infesting geckos, with a prevalence and mean intensity of infestations of 4.41% and 2.2 ± 1.48, respectively. The tick infestations observed were mainly related to the season. The prevalence and intensity of haemogregarine infections were, respectively, 7.92% and 0.24 ± 0.15. The altitude was found to be the only factor associated with this infection. This study also revealed the presence of one helminth genus, Spauligodon sp., with a prevalence and mean intensity of 12.33% and 1.46 ± 0.88, respectively. Spauligodon infestations was significantly associated with age, host size and altitude. This finding represents the first citation of this parasite in Quedenfeldtia genus. Our study indicated that there was no significant relationship between parasite load and geckos body condition, which suggested a stable interaction between the gecko and its parasites. However, it showed a difference of infection between the localities, which could be in relation with habitat conditions.
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6
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Sex- and Age-Specific Effects are Superimposed on Seasonal Variation in Mite Parasitism in Eastern Fence Lizards (Sceloporus undulatus). J HERPETOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1670/18-167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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7
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Butler RA, Trout Fryxell RT, Houston AE, Bowers EK, Paulsen D, Coons LB, Kennedy ML. Small-mammal characteristics affect tick communities in southwestern Tennessee (USA). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2020; 12:150-154. [PMID: 32547921 PMCID: PMC7284121 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Life histories can influence the degree of parasite infestations on a host. Pressures exerted on hosts based on age and sex convey varying degrees of parasite prevalence due to differences in host lifestyles, but it is not known how interactions between different host traits affect tick numbers. The objective of this study was to determine if host characteristics (e.g., age, sex, weight, and their interactions) affect the mean number of ticks found on small mammals regardless of host species or habitat. Sherman live traps were placed in forest and grass/forb habitats representative of the southeastern United States. After capture, host characteristics were recorded, and hosts were then searched for ticks. A total of 281 small mammals (148 Peromyscus leucopus, 34 P. maniculatus, 76 Sigmodon hispidus, 16 Microtus pinetorum, and 7 Ochrotomys nuttalli) and 610 ticks (488 Dermacentor variabilis, 114 Ixodes scapularis, 1 Amblyomma americanum, and 7 A. maculatum) were collected in this study. Host's age, sex, and weight affected the number of ticks collected from small mammals and significant interaction effects between host traits occurred (weight by sex, weight by age, and sex by age). For instance, female subadult rodents had significantly more ticks compared to female adults, male subadults had significantly fewer ticks compared to male adults, and the number of ticks on a host increased as host body mass increased. These results support the hypothesis that the number of ticks vary on rodent hosts based on life histories and trait interactions. Therefore, understanding the behavioral mechanisms of a host can aid in the management of parasites in the environment. Host life histories predict the number of ticks present on a rodent. Male and subadult rodents are infested with an overall greater number of ticks than females and adults. Rodents have more ticks as their weight increases. Interactions between sex and age predict the number of ticks present on a rodent.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Butler
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA.,Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - R T Trout Fryxell
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - A E Houston
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - E K Bowers
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - D Paulsen
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - L B Coons
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - M L Kennedy
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
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8
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Paterson JE, Blouin‐Demers G. High tolerance of two parasites in ornate tree lizards reduces the fitness costs of parasitism. J Zool (1987) 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. E. Paterson
- Department of Biology University of Ottawa Ottawa ON Canada
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9
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Pizzigalli C, Banfi F, Ficetola GF, Falaschi M, Mangiacotti M, Sacchi R, Zuffi MAL, Scali S. Eco-geographical determinants of the evolution of ornamentation in vipers. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain the variation of dorsal patterns observed in snakes, but no studies yet have tested them over broad taxonomic and geographical scales. The Viperidae offer a powerful model group to test eco-evolutionary processes that lead to disruptive and cryptic ornaments. We developed a database reporting dorsal ornamentation, ecological habitus, habitat features and climatic parameters for 257 out of 341 recognized species. Three patterns of dorsal ornamentation were considered: “zig-zag”, “blotchy” and “uniform” patterns. Phylogenetic comparative analyses were based on 11 mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Forty-eight species presented a zig-zag pattern type, 224 a blotchy pattern type and 32 a uniform pattern type. All the patterns showed a strong phylogenetic signal. Character phylogenetic reconstruction analyses suggested an ancestral state for blotchy ornamentation, with multiple independent evolutions of the other patterns. The blotchy pattern was more frequent in terrestrial species living in warm climates and sandy habitats, supporting the hypothesis of a disruptive function. The zig-zag pattern evolved independently in several isolated taxa, particularly in species living in cold climates and in dense vegetation or water-related habitats, supporting the hypothesis of disruptive and aposematic functions. Uniform coloration was particularly frequent in arboreal species, supporting the hypothesis of a cryptic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Pizzigalli
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Federico Banfi
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Gentile Francesco Ficetola
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, LECA, Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, Grenoble, France
| | - Mattia Falaschi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Mangiacotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco A L Zuffi
- Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Pisa, Calci (Pisa), Italy
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10
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Johnson N, Lymburner A, Blouin-Demers G. The impact of ectoparasitism on thermoregulation in Yarrow’s Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus jarrovii). CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2019-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Parasites are ubiquitous and can have large impacts on the fitness of their hosts. The effects of ectoparasites on physiology, behaviour, and immune function suggest that they could be part of the factors which impact thermoregulation. We tested the hypothesis that ectoparasites impact thermoregulation in Yarrow’s Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus jarrovii Cope in Yarrow, 1875) living along an elevational gradient. We predicted a positive association between ectoparasite load and body temperature (Tb), and a negative association between ectoparasite load and effectiveness of thermoregulation (de – db index). We also predicted that the impacts of ectoparasites would be greatest at high elevation where thermal quality of the environment is low because the costs of thermoregulation increase with elevation and these costs can impact thermal immune responses. We found a significant association between the number of chiggers (Trombiculoidea) harboured by lizards and Tb that depended on elevation, but no association between ectoparasite load and de – db index. The mean chigger infection rate was associated with a ΔTb of +0.18 °C at low elevation (consistent with fever) and of –1.07 °C at high elevation (consistent with hypothermia). These findings suggest that parasitism by chiggers impacts lizard Tb in a way that depends on environmental thermal quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Johnson
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - A.H. Lymburner
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - G. Blouin-Demers
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
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11
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Watkins H, Blouin-Demers G. Body size, not age, predicts parasite load in Clark’s Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus clarkii). CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Determining the factors that influence parasite load is a fundamental goal of parasitology. Body size often influences parasite load in reptiles, but it is unclear whether higher levels of parasitism are a result of greater surface area of individuals (a function of size) or of longer periods of exposure to parasites (a function of age). Using skeletochronology in a wild population of Clark’s Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus clarkii Baird and Girard, 1852), we tested the hypotheses that (i) larger individuals have higher parasite loads due to increased surface area available for colonization by parasites and their vectors and that (ii) older individuals have higher parasite loads because they have had longer exposure to parasites and their vectors. Males harboured more ectoparasites than females. Males and females differed in how body size influenced chigger (Acari: Trombiculidae) load; larger males harboured more chiggers than smaller males, but this was not the case in females. Age did not affect ectoparasite load in either sex. These results emphasize the importance of disentangling the effects of size and age in models of parasitism to gain a clearer understanding of intraspecific variation in parasite load.
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Affiliation(s)
- H.V. Watkins
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - G. Blouin-Demers
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
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12
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Romero‐Diaz C, Rivera JA, Ossip‐Drahos AG, Zúñiga‐Vega JJ, Vital‐García C, Hews DK, Martins EP. Losing the trait without losing the signal: Evolutionary shifts in communicative colour signalling. J Evol Biol 2019; 32:320-330. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Julio A. Rivera
- School of Life Sciences Arizona State University Tempe Arizona
| | | | - José Jaime Zúñiga‐Vega
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City Mexico
| | - Cuauhcihuatl Vital‐García
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez Ciudad Juárez Mexico
| | - Diana K. Hews
- Department of Biology Indiana State University Terre Haute Indiana
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13
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Loggie JW, Garner SR, Partridge CG, Dixon B, Knapp R, Neff BD. A test of the effects of androgens on immunity: No relationship between 11-ketotestosterone and immune performance in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 261:1-8. [PMID: 29355535 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The immunosuppressive effects of androgens are a key component of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH). Here, we use bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) to test two predictions arising from this hypothesis: (1) natural circulating concentrations of the androgen 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) will be negatively related with measures of immunity, and (2) immune stimulation will lower circulating 11-KT concentration. We found no evidence for a relationship between natural circulating 11-KT concentration and measures of immunity (lymphocyte and granulocyte counts, respiratory burst, cytokine mRNA levels), and an immune stimulation with Vibrio vaccine did not affect circulating 11-KT concentration. We also performed a meta-analysis of immune stimulation studies to help interpret our results, and report evidence suggesting that immune stimulation has weaker effects on androgen levels in fishes compared to other vertebrates. These results suggest that the ICHH may not apply to all vertebrates, although it remains premature to state what factors account for the weaker evidence in fishes that androgens are immunosuppressive.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Loggie
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Shawn R Garner
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Charlyn G Partridge
- Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, 740 W. Shoreline Dr., Muskegon, MI 49441, USA
| | - Brian Dixon
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Rosemary Knapp
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Bryan D Neff
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.
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14
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Bonneaud C, Sepil I, Wilfert L, Calsbeek R. Plasmodium Infections in Natural Populations of Anolis sagrei Reflect Tolerance Rather Than Susceptibility. Integr Comp Biol 2018; 57:352-361. [PMID: 28859403 PMCID: PMC5886326 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icx044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites can represent formidable selection pressures for hosts, but the cost of infection is sometimes difficult to demonstrate in natural populations. While parasite exploitation strategies may, in some instances, actually inflict low costs on their hosts, the response of hosts to infection is also likely to determine whether or not these costs can be detected. Indeed, costs of infection may be obscured if infected individuals in the wild are those that are the most tolerant, rather than the most susceptible, to infection. Here we test this hypothesis in two natural populations of Anolis sagrei, one of the most common anole lizard of the Bahamas. Plasmodium parasites were detected in > 7% of individuals and belonged to two distinct clades: P. mexicanum and P. floriensis. Infected individuals displayed greater body condition than non-infected ones and we found no association between infection status, stamina, and survival to the end of the breeding season. Furthermore, we found no significant difference in the immuno-competence (measured as a response to phytohemagglutinin challenge) of infected versus non-infected individuals. Taken together, our results suggest that the infected individuals that are caught in the wild are those most able to withstand the cost of the infection and that susceptible, infected individuals have been removed from the population (i.e., through disease-induced mortality). This study highlights the need for caution when interpreting estimates of infection costs in natural populations, as costs may appear low either when parasites exploitation strategies truly inflict low costs on their hosts or when those costs are so high that susceptible hosts are removed from the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Bonneaud
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10?9EF, UK
| | - Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1?3PS, UK
| | - Lena Wilfert
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10?9EF, UK
| | - Ryan Calsbeek
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
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Lindsay WR, Wapstra E, Silverin B, Olsson M. Corticosterone: a costly mediator of signal honesty in sand lizards. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:7451-7461. [PMID: 28725412 PMCID: PMC5513280 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying honest signal expression remain elusive and may involve the integration of social and physiological costs. Corticosterone is a socially modulated metabolic hormone that mediates energy investment and behavior and may therefore function to deter dishonest signal expression. We examined the relationship between corticosterone and green badge coloration in male sand lizards (Lacerta agilis), hypothesizing that physiological and behavioral costs resulting from elevated baseline glucocorticoids function in maintenance of honest signal expression. We found that large‐badged males had higher corticosterone titer, with this relationship apparent at the end of the season and absent early in the season. Large‐badged males also suffered higher ectoparasite load (number of tick nymphs), despite being in better condition than small‐badged males. Ectoparasite load was positively related to corticosterone titer early in the season at the time of badge formation. High‐condition individuals had lower corticosterone and lower numbers of ectoparasites than low‐condition individuals, suggestive of conditional variation in ability to withstand costs of corticosterone. We found an opposing negative relationship between corticosterone titer and endoparasite load. Corticosterone titer was also negatively associated with male mobility, a fitness‐determining behavior in this species. Because badge size is involved in mediating agonistic social interactions in this species, our results suggest that badge‐dependent variation in corticosterone is likely reflective of variation in social conditions experienced over the course of the season. Our results implicate corticosterone in maintenance of signal honesty, both early in the season through enforcement of physiological costs (ectoparasite load) and during the season through behavioral costs (male mobility). We propose that socially modulated variation in corticosterone critically functions in mediation of signal honesty without requiring a direct role for corticosterone in trait expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willow R Lindsay
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences Göteborg University Göteborg Sweden
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Biological Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tas. Australia
| | - Bengt Silverin
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences Göteborg University Göteborg Sweden
| | - Mats Olsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences Göteborg University Göteborg Sweden.,School of Biological Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
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