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Infection with a trematode parasite differentially alters competitive interactions and antipredator behaviour in native and invasive crayfish
Author(s) -
Reisinger Lindsey S.,
Petersen Iris,
Hing Jing Sheng,
Davila Ryan L.,
Lodge David M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/fwb.12590
Subject(s) - crayfish , biology , predation , ecology , competition (biology) , introduced species , host (biology) , invasive species , zoology
Summary Parasites can have profound effects on host behaviour and species interactions, but the consequences of these impacts are inadequately understood. Three common crayfish in northern Wisconsin and Michigan (native Orconectes virilis , non‐native O. propinquus and non‐native and invasive O. rusticus ) are intermediate hosts for trematode parasites, Microphallus spp. Some species in the genus Microphallus alter host behaviour, increasing their predation risk, but the effects of microphallids on crayfish are unknown. Orconectes propinquus replaces O. virilis in most lakes where they are introduced, and O. rusticus replaces both. These species replacements have major effects on macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fish. Therefore, differential parasite impacts on crayfish could have community‐level effects if competitive outcomes are altered. We examined the shelter affinity of infected and uninfected individuals of all three species in laboratory experiments in the presence and absence of a conspecific. We also observed behaviour during agonistic interactions, and measured boldness by quantifying how quickly crayfish emerged from shelter with a predatory fish present. Infection with Microphallus substantially altered crayfish shelter affinity, shelter competition and boldness, though infection affected each species differently. Infection reduced shelter affinity in O. propinquus and the ability of O. virilis to compete for shelter against uninfected conspecifics. Infected crayfish were bolder in the presence of a predatory fish. Our results suggest that infection with Microphallus alters crayfish behaviour so that all three species are more vulnerable to predation. Orconectes propinquus is likely to suffer the greatest increase in predation when infected, due to a reduced affinity for shelter coupled with increased boldness. In lakes where crayfish species coexist, O. rusticus will probably be less affected by the parasite than either congener. Therefore, crayfish parasites could alter crayfish abundance and species composition in north temperate lakes via behavioural modifications.