Parasite fecundity decreases with increasing parasite load in the salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis infecting Atlantic salmon Salmo salar
Abstract Aggregation is common amongst parasites, where a small number of hosts carry a large proportion of parasites. This could result in density‐dependent effects on parasite fitness. In a laboratory study, we explored whether parasite load affected parasite fecundity and survival, using ectopara...
| Published in: | Journal of Fish Diseases |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Other Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2016
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jfd.12547 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fjfd.12547 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jfd.12547 |
| Summary: | Abstract Aggregation is common amongst parasites, where a small number of hosts carry a large proportion of parasites. This could result in density‐dependent effects on parasite fitness. In a laboratory study, we explored whether parasite load affected parasite fecundity and survival, using ectoparasitic salmon lice ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer, 1837) infecting Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) hosts. We found a significant reduction in fecundity with higher parasite load, but no significant effect on survival. Together with previous findings, this suggests that stronger competition amongst female lice under high parasite load is a more likely explanation than increased host immune response. |
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