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How do parasites cost their hosts? Preliminary answers from trematodes and Daphnia obtusa
Author(s) -
Schwartz Steven S.,
Cameron Guy N.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1993.38.3.0602
Subject(s) - biology , daphnia , fecundity , parasite hosting , infestation , reproduction , cladocera , survivorship curve , zoology , ecology , crustacean , population , demography , botany , genetics , cancer , sociology , world wide web , computer science
Cladocerans ( Daphnia obtusa ) in seasonal ponds in southeast Texas are infected with a trematode parasite (n. sp.). Infestation rate varies considerably among ponds and years, and among ponds within years. The parasite is rare in individuals <1.00 mm long but is common in individuals 1.25–1.75 mm long. The parasite has no effect on whether females become gravid. Although there is a significant correlation between length and egg production for unparasitized females, this is not the case for parasitized individuals. An infection of 1–2 parasites does not aflect fecundity; however, greater infections are correlated with reduced egg production. Another cost to Daphnia of harboring the parasite is reduced survivorship, particularly among larger individuals. As these individuals have the capacity to produce more eggs than smaller individuals, it is likely that the parasite also causes a reduction in lifetime reproduction in addition to that in any one reproductive episode.