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Dose‐dependent schistosome‐induced mortality and morbidity risk elevates host reproductive effort
Author(s) -
BLAIR L.,
WEBSTER J. P.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01230.x
Subject(s) - biology , biomphalaria glabrata , fecundity , parasitism , parasite hosting , schistosoma mansoni , snail , zoology , reproduction , host (biology) , schistosoma , reproductive success , ecology , schistosomiasis , helminths , population , demography , sociology , world wide web , computer science
Parasitism changes the host environment and may influence resource allocation between reproductive effort and somatic maintenance. We characterized the impact of dose‐dependent schistosome exposure and/or infection establishment on intermediate host survival and reproduction. Four matched groups of Biomphalaria glabrata snails were individually exposed to increasing doses of Schistosoma mansoni parasites, with a fifth control group remaining unexposed. Increased mortality was observed amongst both snails infected and also those snails exposed to the parasite but within which infection did not establish, although only exposed but uninfected snails showed a dose‐dependent increase in mortality. Snails also facultatively altered their reproductive output in response to parasite exposure: egg mass production decreased with increasing parasite dose in patently infected snails, whilst, in contrast, exposed but uninfected snails demonstrated a positive association between egg mass production and parasite dose in the post‐patent period. These results uniquely suggest an exposure‐dose‐dependent post‐patent fecundity compensation occurring in relation to the risk of future parasite‐associated mortality.