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A possible link between parasite defence and residual reproduction
Author(s) -
KARELL P.,
PIETIÄINEN H.,
SIITARI H.,
BROMMER J. E.
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.1420-9101.2007.01423.x
Subject(s) - biology , reproduction , offspring , leucocytozoon , zoology , parasite hosting , life history , life history theory , ecology , immunology , pregnancy , genetics , malaria , world wide web , computer science , gametocyte , plasmodium falciparum
Life‐history theory centres around trade‐offs between current and future reproduction, but we have little understanding of how such trade‐offs are mediated. We supplementary fed Ural owls ( Strix uralensis ) during the nestling period and quantified parents’ current and future life‐history components as well as their physiological health by monitoring haematocrit, leucocyte profile, intra‐ and extracellular blood parasites. Feeding led to reduced parental effort but did not improve offspring viability, male parasite defence, or parental survival. Intracellular leucocytozoan infection was reduced in fed females which lasted to the following year's reproductive season (carry‐over effect), when fed females also laid larger and earlier clutches. Leucocytozoon infection therefore may mediate the life‐history trade‐off between current and residual reproduction in this species.