Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole
SUMMARY Parasitism is often a source of variation in host's fitness components. Understanding and estimating its relative importance for fitness components of hosts is fundamental from physiological, ecological and evolutionary perspectives. Host-parasite studies have often reported parasite-in...
Published in: | Parasitology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2009
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182009990746 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0031182009990746 |
id |
crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0031182009990746 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0031182009990746 2024-04-07T07:51:54+00:00 Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole DEVEVEY, G. CHRISTE, P. 2009 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182009990746 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0031182009990746 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Parasitology volume 136, issue 11, page 1351-1355 ISSN 0031-1820 1469-8161 Infectious Diseases Animal Science and Zoology Parasitology journal-article 2009 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182009990746 2024-03-08T00:36:36Z SUMMARY Parasitism is often a source of variation in host's fitness components. Understanding and estimating its relative importance for fitness components of hosts is fundamental from physiological, ecological and evolutionary perspectives. Host-parasite studies have often reported parasite-induced reduction of host fecundity, whereas the effect of parasitism on host survival has been largely neglected. Here, we experimentally investigated the effect of infestation by rat fleas ( Nosopsyllus fasciatus ) on the life span of wild-derived male common voles ( Microtus arvalis ) bred in captivity. We found that the mean life span of parasitized voles was reduced by 36% compared to control voles. Parasitized voles had a smaller body size, but a relatively larger heart and spleen than control voles. These results indicate an effect of flea infestation on host life span and our findings strongly suggest that ectoparasites should be taken into account in the studies of host population dynamics. Article in Journal/Newspaper Common vole Microtus arvalis Cambridge University Press Parasitology 136 11 1351 1355 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Infectious Diseases Animal Science and Zoology Parasitology |
spellingShingle |
Infectious Diseases Animal Science and Zoology Parasitology DEVEVEY, G. CHRISTE, P. Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole |
topic_facet |
Infectious Diseases Animal Science and Zoology Parasitology |
description |
SUMMARY Parasitism is often a source of variation in host's fitness components. Understanding and estimating its relative importance for fitness components of hosts is fundamental from physiological, ecological and evolutionary perspectives. Host-parasite studies have often reported parasite-induced reduction of host fecundity, whereas the effect of parasitism on host survival has been largely neglected. Here, we experimentally investigated the effect of infestation by rat fleas ( Nosopsyllus fasciatus ) on the life span of wild-derived male common voles ( Microtus arvalis ) bred in captivity. We found that the mean life span of parasitized voles was reduced by 36% compared to control voles. Parasitized voles had a smaller body size, but a relatively larger heart and spleen than control voles. These results indicate an effect of flea infestation on host life span and our findings strongly suggest that ectoparasites should be taken into account in the studies of host population dynamics. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
DEVEVEY, G. CHRISTE, P. |
author_facet |
DEVEVEY, G. CHRISTE, P. |
author_sort |
DEVEVEY, G. |
title |
Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole |
title_short |
Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole |
title_full |
Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole |
title_fullStr |
Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole |
title_full_unstemmed |
Flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole |
title_sort |
flea infestation reduces the life span of the common vole |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182009990746 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0031182009990746 |
genre |
Common vole Microtus arvalis |
genre_facet |
Common vole Microtus arvalis |
op_source |
Parasitology volume 136, issue 11, page 1351-1355 ISSN 0031-1820 1469-8161 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182009990746 |
container_title |
Parasitology |
container_volume |
136 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
1351 |
op_container_end_page |
1355 |
_version_ |
1795667008676691968 |