Ectoparasite infestation and sex-biased local recruitment of hosts

Détails

ID Serval
serval:BIB_C7443DF8C426
Type
Article: article d'un périodique ou d'un magazine.
Collection
Publications
Titre
Ectoparasite infestation and sex-biased local recruitment of hosts
Périodique
Nature
Auteur⸱e⸱s
Heeb  P., Werner  I., Mateman  A.C., Kölliker  M., Brinkhof  M.G.W., Lessells  C.M., Richner  H.
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
1999
Volume
400
Numéro
1st July
Pages
63-65
Notes
infile/mycopy
Résumé
Dispersal patterns of organisms are a fundamental aspect of their ecology, modifying the genetic and social structure of local popu lations. Parasites reduce the reproductive success and survival of hosts and thereby exert selection pressure on host life-history traits, possibly affecting host dispersal. Here we test experimentally whether infestation by hen fleas, Ceratophyllus gallinae, affects sex-related recruitment of great tit, Parus major, fledglings. Using sex-specific DNA markers, we show that flea infestation led to higher proportion of male fledglings recruting in the local population in one year. In uninfested broods, the proportion of male recruits increased with brood size over a three year period, whereas the proportion of male recruits from uninfested broods decreased with brood size. Natal dispersal distances of recruits from infested nests were shorter than those from uninfested nests. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence for parasite-mediated host natal dispersal and local recruitment in relation to sex. Current theory needs to consider parasites as potentially important factors shaping life- history traits associated with host dispersal.
Création de la notice
19/11/2007 10:47
Dernière modification de la notice
20/08/2019 15:42
Données d'usage