Authors: J Deter JF Cosson Y Chaval N Charbonnel S Morand
Publish Date: 2007/05/23
Volume: 101, Issue: 4, Pages: 1161-1164
Abstract
Parasites have detrimental effects on host fitness Consequently they play a major role for host population dynamics In this study we investigated experimentally the impact of the nematode Trichuris arvicolae on the reproduction of its host the common vole Microtus arvalis Wild common voles were trapped in east of France and reared in standardized conditions before being experimentally infected Infection with Trichuris arvicolae did not affect host consumption of food or water Parasitized females gave birth to slightly less pups mean 336 ± 038 than unparasitized females mean 360 ± 040 Controlling for natal litter size using analysis of covariance ANCOVA T arvicolae infection had a significant effect on the individual mass at birth with pups from parasitized females having significantly lower mass 211 g ± 001 than pups from unparasitized females 220 g ± 001 Other measures of host reproductive outputs time to first reproduction mass of pups at weaning litter survival were not affected by maternal parasite infection We discuss how these changes in M arvalis reproductive investments associated with T arvicolae infection must now be investigated in the context of physiological tradeoffsWe are very grateful to C Moulia M PerriatSanguinet and A Porcherie for their advices in experiments and to T Boulinier and P David for their interesting suggestions We would like to thank also V Rougeron for her help in rearing animals All the experiments comply with the French current laws This work was financed by a grant from the Ministry of Research and supported financially by the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique
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