Parasite intensity drives fetal development and sex allocation in a wild ungulate
Aleuy, O. Alejandro (University of Calgary. Department of Ecosystem and Public Health)
Serrano Ferron, Emmanuel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Grup de Recerca Wildlife Ecology & Health)
Ruckstuhl, Kathreen E. (University of Calgary. Department of Biological Sciences)
Hoberg, Eric P. (University of New Mexico. Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology)
Kutz, Susan (University of Calgary. Department of Ecosystem and Public Health)

Date:	2020
Abstract:	An understanding of the mechanisms influencing prenatal characteristics is fundamental to comprehend the role of ecological and evolutionary processes behind survival and reproductive success in animals. Although the negative influence of parasites on host fitness is undisputable, we know very little about how parasitic infection in reproductive females might influence prenatal factors such as fetal development and sex allocation. Using an archival collection of Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli dalli), a capital breeder that depends on its body reserves to overcome the arctic winter, we investigated the direct and indirect impacts of the parasite community on fetal development and sex allocation. Using partial least squares modelling, we observed a negative effect of parasite community on fetal development, driven primarily by the nematode Marshallagia marshalli. Principal component analysis demonstrated that mothers with low parasite burden and in good body condition were more likely to have female versus male fetuses. This association was primarily driven by the indirect effect of M. marshalli on ewe body condition. Refining our knowledge of the direct and indirect impact that parasite communities can have on reproduction in mammals is critical for understanding the effects of infectious diseases on wildlife populations. This can be particularly relevant for species living in ecosystems sensitive to the effects of global climate change.
Grants:	Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad RYC-2016-21120
Note:	Altres ajuts: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada 316189-2012-RGPIN. Beringian Coevolution Project (BCP), National Science Foundation DEB 0196095 i 0415668
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Ecological epidemiology ; Population dynamics ; Theoretical ecology ; Sexual selection
Published in:	Scientific reports, Vol. 10 (september 2020) , ISSN 2045-2322

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72376-x
PMID: 32973197

10 p, 2.1 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Research group Wildlife Ecology & Health
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles