Effects of multiple stressors on northern leopard frogs in agricultural wetlands

Parasitology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 148(7), С. 827 - 834

Опубликована: Март 9, 2021

Natural and anthropogenic stressors, including parasites pesticides, may induce oxidative stress in animals. Measuring responses sentinel species that are particularly responsive to environmental perturbations not only provides insight into host physiology but is also a useful readout of ecosystem health. Newly metamorphosed northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens), species, were collected from agricultural non-agricultural wetlands exposed varying concentrations the herbicide atrazine. Significant effects certain parasites' abundance their interaction with atrazine exposure on frog identified. Specifically, increased protein levels detected infected echinostome metacercariae. In addition, nematode Oswaldocruzia sp. was significantly associated thiol concentration catalase activity. parasite × interactions observed for thiol, as at low localities decreased high wetlands. significant between abundances gorgoderid trematodes observed. These findings demonstrate studies animals natural ecosystems should account confounding parasitism, amphibians landscapes.

Язык: Английский

---

Determinants of prevalence and co-infestation by ecto- and endoparasites in the Atlas day gecko, Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus, an endemic species of Morocco

Parasitology Research, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 120(7), С. 2543 - 2556

Опубликована: Март 22, 2021

Язык: Английский

---

Experimental ectoparasite removal has a sex‐specific effect on nestling telomere length

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 13(3)

Опубликована: Март 1, 2023

Abstract Parasites are a strong selective force that can influence fitness‐related traits. The length of chromosome‐capping telomeres be used to assess the long‐term costs parasitism, as telomere loss accelerates in response environmental stressors and often precedes poorer survival prospects. Here, we explored sex‐specific effects ectoparasite removal on morphology nestling tree swallows ( Tachycineta bicolor ). To do so, experimentally removed blow fly Protocalliphora spp.) larvae from nests using Permethrin, broad‐spectrum insecticide. Compared water‐treated controls, insecticide treatment had sex‐biased effect blood length: resulted significantly longer males but not females. While this did body mass, it was associated with reduced feather development regardless sex. This may reflect relaxed pressure fledge quickly absence parasites, or alternatively, could negative side permethrin morphology. Exploring robust dynamics early‐life pressures such parasitism will shed light sexual dimorphism adult life histories aging.

Язык: Английский

---

The habitat quality paradox: loss of riparian forest cover leads to decreased risk of parasitism and improved body condition in an imperiled amphibian

Conservation Physiology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 12(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT Amphibian declines are a global phenomenon but responses of populations to specific threats often context dependent and mediated by individual physiological condition. Habitat degradation due reduced riparian forest cover parasitism two facing the hellbender salamander (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), their potential interact in nature remains largely unexplored. We investigated associations between cover, parasitic infection physiology hellbenders test hypotheses that condition responds and/or habitat degradation. sampled 17 stream reaches southwest Virginia, USA, on year-round basis from 2013 2016 recorded 841 captures 405 unique hellbenders. At each capture we documented prevalence blood-associated parasites (a leech trypanosome) quantified up three indices (body condition, hematocrit, white blood cell [WBC] differentials). used generalized linear mixed models describe spatiotemporal variation index. In general, living most heavily forested reaches, where density was highest, associated with greatest risk parasitism, elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N:L) ratios eosinophils, slightly lower hematocrit mean body All fluctuated temporally manner consistent seasonal metabolic demands breeding phenology were land use during at least part year. Paradoxically, relatively low levels appeared confer advantage individuals form release improved Despite less areas failed exhibit fluctuating response spawning, which typical more habitats. postulate this lack fluctuation could be conspecific competition or reproductive investment high rates filial cannibalism declining cover.

Язык: Английский

---

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

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Май 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.

Язык: Английский

---