A biological invasion modifies the dynamics of a host–parasite arms race

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2016)

Published: Feb. 14, 2024

By imposing novel selection pressures on both participants, biological invasions can modify evolutionary ‘arms races’ between hosts and parasites. A spatially replicated cross-infection experiment reveals strong spatial divergence in the ability of lungworms ( Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala ) to infect invasive cane toads Rhinella marina Australia. In areas colonized for longer than 20 years, are more resistant infection by local strains parasites allopatric strains. The situation reverses at invasion front, where super-infective have evolved. Invasion-induced shifts genetic diversity selective may explain why gain advantage over long-colonized areas, whereas front.

Language: Английский

---

Evolutionary ecology of dispersal in biodiverse spatially structured systems: what is old and what is new?

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 379(1907)

Published: June 24, 2024

Dispersal is a well-recognized driver of ecological and evolutionary dynamics, simultaneously an evolving trait. evolution has traditionally been studied in single-species metapopulations so that it remains unclear how dispersal evolves metacommunities metafoodwebs, which are characterized by multitude species interactions. Since most natural systems both species-rich spatially structured, this knowledge gap should be bridged. Here, we discuss whether from ecology established holds metafoodwebs highlight generally valid fundamental principles. Most biotic interactions form the backdrop to theatre for play because mediate patterns fitness expectations across space time. While allows simple transposition certain known principles multispecies context, other drivers may require more complex transpositions, or might not transferred. We important quantitative modulator evolution—increased trait dimensionality biodiverse meta-systems—and additional driver: co-dispersal. speculate scale selection pressure mismatches owing co-dispersal, together with increased dimensionality, lead slower ‘diffuse’ meta-systems. Open questions potential consequences terms call investigation. This article part theme issue 'Diversity-dependence dispersal: interspecific determine spatial dynamics'.

Language: Английский

---

Big‐Hearted Invaders: The Impacts of Range Expansion and Parasite Infection on Heart Mass in Cane Toads

Integrative Zoology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 10, 2025

ABSTRACT The invasion of cane toads ( Rhinella marina ) across tropical Australia has resulted in the rapid evolution traits that enable higher rates dispersal, and adapt to hot dry climates. In anurans, a larger heart facilitates both locomotor activity desiccation tolerance. Heart size is also often affected, either directly or indirectly, by parasite infections. To test effects history exposure on size, we studied common garden‐reared whose parents were sourced from diverse locations, experimentally exposed them larvae nematode lungworm Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala) . Offspring invasion‐front had hearts than did conspecifics long‐established populations. Exposure infective decreased mass all Our study suggests cardiovascular function, like other traits, evolved rapidly during toad invasion; parasites can modify function hence aerobic capacity their host.

Language: Английский

---

Does a biological invasion modify host immune responses to parasite infection?

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Biological invasions can disrupt the close and longstanding coevolved relationships between host parasites. At same time, shifting selective forces acting on demography during invasion result in rapid evolution of traits both parasite. Hosts at front may reduce investment into costly immune defences redistribute those resources to other fitness-enhancing traits. Parasites have reduced pathogenicity because that negatively impact dispersal are left behind expanding range. The host's system is its primary arsenal coevolutionary 'arms race' with To assess effects history responses parasite infection, we conducted a cross-infection experiment which paired common-garden reared cane toads lungworm parasites originating from various sites their invaded range across northern Australia. Infected had larger spleens higher concentrations eosinophils than did uninfected toads. also exhibited lower bacteria-killing ability, perhaps reflecting trade-off towards more specifically anthelminthic. infection intensity multiple measures differed among different parts trajectory, supporting hypothesis has disrupted patterns local adaptation.

Language: Английский

---

Behavioural infection tolerance of malaria is negatively correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the brain of an invasive songbird

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 79(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Travelling with a parasite: the evolution of resistance and dispersal syndromes during experimental range expansion

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 290(1990)

Published: Jan. 4, 2023

Rapid evolutionary change during range expansions can lead to diverging core and front populations, with the emergence of dispersal syndromes (coupled responses in life-history traits). Besides intraspecific effects, may be impacted by interspecific interactions such as parasitism. Yet, despite potentially large impact parasites imposing additional selective pressures on host, their role remains largely unexplored. Using microcosm populations ciliate Paramecium caudatum its bacterial parasite Holospora undulata , we studied experimental under presence or absence. We found that interaction expansion treatments affected evolution host syndromes. Namely, showed different associations population growth parameters swimming behaviours than indicating divergent evolution. Parasitism reshaped trait associations, hosts evolved exhibiting overall increased resistance reduced dispersal. Nonetheless, when comparing infected a positive association, suggesting joint at front. conclude host–parasite trajectories; this turn feedback ecological dynamics epidemics.

Language: Английский

---

Rapidly evolved traits enable new conservation tools: perspectives from the cane toad invasion of Australia

Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 77(8), P. 1744 - 1755

Published: June 4, 2023

Abstract Natural populations can show rapid adaptive responses to intense (human-mediated) environmental change. The potential for exploiting rapidly evolved traits conservation management has been often discussed but rarely implemented. Capitalizing on a well-studied biological invasion, we here explore the idea that phenotypic change in invaders, their pathogens, and native biota provide opportunities managers control invader abundance buffer adverse impacts wildlife. Intensive studies of invasion tropical Australia by cane toads (Rhinella marina) have identified newly vulnerabilities could exploit toad control; resilience wildlife impact reduction. For example, distinctive phenotypes at expanding range edge enhance dispersal rate reduce reproductive output, intraspecific competitive ability, immunocompetence; evolution larval cannibalism creates not only species-specific trapping tadpoles, also be exploited (when allied emerging CRISPR-Cas9 techniques) intensify conflict invasive toads. That is, use species own populations. This case study illustrates detailed basic research identify novel approaches conservation.

Language: Английский

---

Effect of parasite infection and invasion history on feeding, growth, and energy allocation of cane toads

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 17, 2024

Abstract The energy allocation decisions that organisms make can differ between sexes and populations be influenced by factors such as age parasite infection. We conducted experimental infections on common-garden reared cane toads originating from sites across the species’ invasive range in Australia to assess how sex, infection, invasion history affected toad’s food intake, growth rate, organ weights. Female had larger fat stores, livers, gonads than did males, reflecting increased investment into gametes. Growth rate not sexes. Lungworm infection feeding male but female storage all toads. Fat body, liver, gonad sizes, rates differed among different locations within transect Australia, even though our measurements were made under standardized conditions captive animals. Toads close front ate more, heavier bodies, livers long-colonized areas, they smaller gonads. This pattern reflects evolution of a more dispersive phenotype populations, whereby dispersal is enhanced intake storage, delayed reproduction.

Language: Английский

---

Travelling with a parasite: the evolution of resistance and dispersal syndromes during experimental range expansion

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 29, 2020

Abstract Rapid evolutionary change during range expansions can lead to diverging core and front populations, with the emergence of dispersal syndromes (coupled responses in life-history traits). Besides intraspecific effects, may be impacted by interspecific interactions such as parasitism. Yet, despite potentially large impact parasites imposing additional selective pressures on host, their role remains largely unexplored. Using microcosm populations ciliate Paramecium caudatum its bacterial parasite Holospora undulata , we studied experimental under presence or absence. We found that interaction expansion treatments affected evolution host syndromes. Namely, showed different associations population growth parameters swimming behaviours than indicating divergent evolution. Parasitism reshaped trait associations, hosts evolved exhibiting overall increased resistance reduced dispersal. Nonetheless, when comparing infected a positive association, suggesting joint at front. conclude host-parasite trajectories; this turn feed back ecological dynamics epidemics.

Language: Английский

---

First in family Rhabdiasidae: the reference-guided genome assembly of an invasive parasite, the cane toad lungworm (Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala)

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 28, 2023

Abstract Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala is a well-studied invasive nematode parasite of amphibians. However, there are several outstanding questions about R. that best answered using genomic data. This species differs phenotypically across its range. These differences challenging to interpret because this part complex diverse and cryptic in home-range, we do not know how many from originally colonised Australia. For reason, it unknown whether the phenotypic introduced range due intraspecific differentiation between populations or presence multiple species. In addition, little consensus placement Rhabdiasidae family within phylum Nematoda, making difficult perform comparative analyses with other nematodes. Within paper, assemble reference genome for , first assembly any We then use resequencing data address Specifically, combine population genetic phylogenetic determine likely only single lineage Australia, identify closely related home rage isolates infect similar host present compelling evidence bottleneck following introduction Australia occurring populations. genome-scale phylogenomic analysis place suborder Rhabditina. Ultimately, paper brings study into era, sheds light on ancient modern evolutionary history.

Language: Английский

---