Transgenerational fecundity compensation in the aphidAphis craccivorain response to parasitism by two competing parasitoids

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew C Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
Fecundity Compensation

scholarly journals Snail host parental investment throughout a Schistosoma mansoni infection

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie O. Gutierrez ◽  
Olivia J. Lockyear ◽  
Dennis J. Minchella
Keyword(s):  
Schistosoma Mansoni ◽  
Parental Investment ◽  
Pathogen Resistance ◽  
Snail Host ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Immune Priming ◽  
Investment Theory ◽  
Parent Health ◽  
Fecundity Compensation

AbstractParental investment theory describes the ability of organisms to respond to an environmental challenge by increasing the fitness of future offspring. Utilizing life history changes, organisms can maximize fitness by increasing their total reproductive output or by investing more into the success of fewer offspring. In cases where parasitic infections result in castration of their host, increased reproductive effort known as fecundity compensation has been demonstrated in a variety of organisms. This response appears predictive of expected future reproductive losses. Organisms struggling with an environmental pathogen, may attempt to better prepare their offspring for the environment they are experiencing through transgenerational immune priming (TGIP). In immune priming, primary infection lowers the prevalence and intensity of a subsequent infection by the same pathogen. Transgenerational immune priming carries pathogen resistance into further generations without genotypic changes. The focus of this study was to determine whether invertebrate parental investment into offspring parasite resistance varies over the course of an infection. Utilizing the snail host Biomphalaria glabrata and its trematode parasite Schistosoma mansoni, offspring were reared from specific time intervals in the parent’s infection and subsequently exposed to the same pathogen when each cohort reached the same age- 12 weeks. Differences in infection prevalence and intensity were expected based on when the offspring were born during their parent’s infection. A trade-off was predicted between the number of offspring produced in a cohort and offspring resistance to future infections. Offspring born during the period of fecundity compensation were predicted to exhibit lower resistance due to a dilution of individual investment by parents into a larger offspring pool. While our results did not support TGIP, there were differences in offspring prevalence, as well as an indication that parent health may interact with genetics in offspring resistance. Results suggest that parental condition can influence resistance of B. glabrata offspring to S. mansoni but that TGIP may not be operating in this system.

Lack of trade-offs in host offspring produced during fecundity compensation

2021 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.A. Davis ◽  
J.T. Vannatta ◽  
S.O. Gutierrez ◽  
D.J. Minchella
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Life History Response ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Fecundity Compensation ◽  
Future Reproduction ◽  
Host Life

Abstract Host–parasite coevolution may result in life-history changes in hosts that can limit the detrimental effects of parasitism. Fecundity compensation is one such life-history response, occurring when hosts increase their current reproductive output to make up for expected losses in future reproduction due to parasitic infection. However, the potential trade-offs between this increase in quantity and the quality of offspring have been relatively unexplored. This study uses the trematode, Schistosoma mansoni, and its snail intermediate host, Biomphalaria glabrata, to better understand how this host life-history response, fecundity compensation, impacts host reproduction. Measures of host reproductive output as well as offspring hatching success and survival were collected to assess the reproductive consequences of infection. Infected snails exhibited fecundity compensation by increasing the number of eggs laid and the overall probability of laying eggs compared to uninfected snails. Parental infection status did not play a significant role in hatching or offspring survival to maturity. Offspring from a later reproductive bout demonstrated a higher hatching success rate. Overall, the lack of an apparent trade-off between quantity and quality of offspring suggests that infected parental snails invest more resources towards reproduction not only to increase reproductive output, but also to maintain the fitness of their offspring, possibly at the expense of their own longevity.

Effects of Schistosoma haematobium infection on reproductive success and male outcrossing ability in the simultaneous hermaphrodite, Bulinus truncatus (Gastropoda: Planorbidae)

Parasitology ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Schrag ◽  
D. Rollinson
Keyword(s):  
Schistosoma Haematobium ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Snail Host ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Simultaneous Hermaphrodite ◽  
Bulinus Truncatus ◽  
Egg Masses ◽  
Susceptibility To Infection ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Fecundity Compensation

SUMMARYThe schistosome intermediate snail host, Bulinus truncatus (Mollusca: Planorbidae), has two reproductive (phally) morphs. Both aphallics and euphallics can self-fertilize, but aphallics cannot donate sperm because they do not develop a functional penis and prostate. This study investigated the interactions between phally and fitness consequences of Schistosoma haematobium infection in B. truncatus. Snails which developed patent infections produced 26% fewer eggs than controls and 35% fewer eggs than exposed snails which did not develop infections. This reduction was due to a lower lifetime production of egg masses and a smaller mean number of eggs/mass in infected snails relative to control or exposed snails. However, there was no evidence of increased mortality in infected snails. Contrary to reports of fecundity compensation in other intermediate host snails, egg production post-exposure during the pre-patent period did not increase relative to that of controls in either infected or exposed snails. Phally did not influence susceptibility to infection or length of the prepatent period. Furthermore, lifetime egg, egg mass and hatchling production, as well as mean eggs/mass and number of hatchlings reaching maturity, did not differ significantly between aphallics and euphallics within control or exposed experimental groups. However, within the infected group euphallics produced 38% fewer eggs, smaller egg masses, and fewer hatchlings reaching maturity than aphallics, supporting the prediction of a cost to the growth and maintenance of a full male tract. This cost was detectable only when snails were under the stress of infection. The proportion of euphallic offspring produced did not differ across experimental groups. We discuss these results in light of alternative host strategies to minimize fitness costs of infection.

Fecundity compensation and fecundity reduction among populations of the three-spined stickleback infected by Schistocephalus solidus in Alaska

Parasitology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 141 (8) ◽  
pp. 1088-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID C. HEINS ◽  
JOHN A. BAKER
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Host Response ◽  
South Central ◽  
Schistocephalus Solidus ◽  
Fecundity Compensation ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
Effect Of Feeding ◽  
Fecundity Reduction ◽  
Host Body Mass

SUMMARYWe surveyed nine populations of the three-spined stickleback infected by the diphyllobothriidean cestode Schistocephalus solidus from south-central Alaska for two apparent forms of tolerance to infection in females capable of producing egg clutches notwithstanding large parasite burdens. Seven populations exhibited fecundity reduction, whereas two populations showed fecundity compensation. Our data suggest that fecundity reduction, a side effect resulting from nutrient theft, occurs in two phases of host response influenced by the parasite : host body mass (BM) ratio. The first is significantly reduced ovum mass without significant reduction in clutch size, and the second one involves significant reductions in both ovum mass and clutch size. Thus, ovum mass of host females who are functionally being starved through nutrient theft seems to be more readily influenced by parasitism and, therefore, decreased before clutch size is reduced. This inference is consistent with expectations based on the biology of and effect of feeding ration on reproduction in stickleback females. Fecundity compensation appears to be uncommon among populations of three-spined stickleback in Alaska and rare among populations throughout the northern hemisphere. Fecundity reduction seems to be common, at least among stickleback populations in Alaska.

scholarly journals Lack of Host Reproductive Trade-offs Associated with Fecundity Compensation Response to Parasitic Castration

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annabell A Davis ◽  
Jonathan Trevor Vannatta ◽  
Stephanie O Gutierrez ◽  
Dennis J Minchella
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Older Parents ◽  
Life History Response ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Fecundity Compensation ◽  
Host Life

Host-parasite coevolution may result in life-history changes in hosts that can limit the detrimental effects of parasitism. Fecundity compensation is one such life-history response, occurring when hosts increase their current reproductive output to make up for expected losses in future reproduction due to parasitic infection. However, the potential trade-offs between quantity and quality of offspring produced during fecundity compensation are relatively unexplored. This study uses the trematode, Schistosoma mansoni, and its snail intermediate host, Biomphalaria glabrata, to better understand the impacts of this host life-history response. Measures of host reproductive output as well as offspring hatching success and survival were collected to assess the reproductive consequences of infection. Infected snails exhibited fecundity compensation (increase in the number of eggs laid compared to controls) and had a higher probability of laying any eggs at all. Infection status did not play a significant role in hatching or offspring survival to maturity. However, the age of the parental snail had a significant impact on hatching success, as offspring from older parents demonstrated a higher hatching success rate. Overall, the lack of an apparent trade-off between quantity and quality of offspring suggests that infected parental snails invest more resources towards reproduction in order to maintain the fitness of their offspring, possibly at the expense of their own longevity.

scholarly journals Fight or Flight? Alternative Defense of the Pea Aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum on Different Host Plants

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 614
Author(s):  
Martin John Martin ◽  
Yueming Li ◽  
Li Ma ◽  
Yi Feng ◽  
Zhiqiang Lu
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Alternative Strategies ◽  
Immunological Responses ◽  
Offspring Production ◽  
Broad Beans ◽  
Pea Aphids ◽  
Fecundity Compensation

Non-immunological responses are important alternative strategies for animals to deal with pathogens. It has long been recognized that fecundity compensation and production of winged offspring are two common non-immunological responses used by aphids when confronted with predators or pathogens. However, the effects of host plant on these responses have received little attention. This study investigated the effects of host plant on non-immunological defense in the pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, after bacterial and fungal infections. The aphids were raised in two groups, with one group being raised on broad beans and the other group being raised on alfalfa. The secondary symbiont background was examined, and the aphids were then infected with bacteria and fungus to assess fecundity and winged offspring production. We found that aphids that had been fed alfalfa had fewer offspring than those fed broad beans. Alfalfa-fed aphids produced more winged offspring in response to S. aureus and B. bassiana infections. Our findings suggest that the host plant plays a key role in fecundity and winged offspring production in pea aphid colony.

scholarly journals Stomach nematodes of cotton rats: parasites, commensals, or mutualists?

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (6) ◽  
pp. 1831-1836
Author(s):  
Bradley J Bergstrom ◽  
Robert K Rose ◽  
A Scott Bellows
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Immune Modulation ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Recent Theory ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Reproductive Response ◽  
Cotton Rats ◽  
Fecundity Compensation ◽  
Low Prevalence

Abstract We related presence and burden of stomach nematodes to body mass and reproductive allocation in hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) from two long-running field studies in Virginia (1983–1984, n = 286; and 1988–1990, n = 425) and one from Georgia 1987–1989 (n = 459). Eighty percent of rats from the earlier Virginia sample were infected, with mean nematode mass of 1,311 mg. In the later samples, 23% (Virginia) and 33% (Georgia) were infected with mean nematode mass of 493 and 769 mg, respectively. Presence of nematodes was positively correlated with host body length for each sex in each sample. We used analysis of covariance to examine length-adjusted residuals for presence of nematodes and mass of nematodes for association with somatic and reproductive response variables. Both body and reproductive masses were either positively associated or not related to nematode presence in the two low-prevalence samples, and either negatively associated or not related to nematode presence in the high-prevalence sample. No relationships were detected between host mass and nematode mass per host in either sex in any sample. There was no effect of nematode presence on litter size of pregnant females, but there was a positive effect of nematode mass on litter size in Georgia. Recent theory provides several possible explanations for such neutral-to-positive effects of stomach nematodes on host fitness, including the evolution of host tolerance to the parasites, fecundity compensation by the hosts, and positive effects on host health via immune modulation.

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