Use it or lose it: reproductive implications of ecological specialization in a haematophagous ectoparasite

Journal of Evolutionary Biology
A ArbivBoris R Krasnov

Abstract

Using experimentally induced disruptive selection, we tested two hypotheses regarding the evolution of specialization in parasites. The 'trade-off' hypothesis suggests that adaptation to a specific host may come at the expense of a reduced performance when exploiting another host. The alternative 'relaxed selection' hypothesis suggests that the ability to exploit a given host would deteriorate when becoming obsolete. Three replicate populations of a flea Xenopsylla ramesis were maintained on each of two rodent hosts, Meriones crassus and Dipodillus dasyurus, for nine generations. Fleas maintained on a specific host species for a few generations substantially decreased their reproductive performance when transferred to an alternative host species, whereas they generally did not increase their performance on their maintenance host. The results support the 'relaxed selection' hypothesis of the evolution of ecological specialization in haematophagous ectoparasites, while suggesting that trade-offs are unlikely drivers of specialization. Further work is needed to study the extent by which the observed specializations are based on epigenetic or genetic modifications.

References

Nov 1, 1988·Anesthesiology·J ChrubasikP Scherpereel
Feb 26, 1968·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·H A Saltzman, H O Sieker
Jan 1, 1997·International Journal for Parasitology·C Combes
Nov 20, 1998·Science·D Ebert
Feb 8, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J Sasaki, N Nakashima
Aug 11, 2000·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·R R RegoesS Bonhoeffer
Feb 24, 2001·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·C M DaviesM E Woolhous
May 16, 2001·Science·M E WoolhouseD T Haydon
May 23, 2001·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·G D. Ruxton, S Humphries
Jun 30, 2001·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·B VanhooydonckP Aerts
Dec 1, 2001·Annual Review of Entomology·Stewart H Berlocher, Jeffrey L Feder
Apr 6, 2002·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Marc J Lajeunesse, Mark R Forbes
Nov 19, 2002·The Journal of Parasitology·Alison RadtkeDaniel R Brooks
Mar 26, 2003·The American Naturalist·Daniel I BolnickMatthew L Forister
May 4, 2004·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Sylvain Gandon
Jul 23, 2004·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Charlotte M Gower, Joanne P Webster
Sep 17, 2005·Insect Molecular Biology·R J L MunksM J Lehane
Nov 22, 2005·Genetics·Siobain DuffyChristina L Burch
Nov 29, 2005·International Journal for Parasitology·Robert PoulinIrina S Khokhlova
Dec 20, 2005·Current Biology : CB·John N Thompson
Mar 15, 2006·Nature Reviews. Genetics·Eric J Richards
Mar 30, 2006·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Tom J LittleDieter Ebert
Feb 20, 2007·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·D A Roff, D J Fairbairn
Mar 8, 2007·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Steve Paterson, Rebecca Barber
Apr 6, 2007·Genetics·Martin T FerrisChristina L Burch
Jun 9, 2009·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·David C LahtiSusan A Foster
Aug 5, 2009·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Sara MagalhãesIsabelle Olivieri
Sep 21, 2010·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological Genetics and Physiology·Irina S KhokhlovaBoris R Krasnov
Jun 18, 2011·Trends in Parasitology·Robert PoulinDavid Mouillot
Jun 28, 2011·Ecology Letters·Timothée PoisotMichael E Hochberg
Jul 28, 2011·Ecology Letters·Márcio S AraújoCraig A Layman
Feb 1, 1992·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·James D Fry

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 26, 2014·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Justin R St JulianaBoris R Krasnov
Dec 7, 2019·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Alexandre MestreJoaquín Hortal
Jan 16, 2021·Parasitology Research·Nadezhda A StavtsevaBoris R Krasnov

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.