Chigger mite (Eutrombicula alfreddugesi) ectoparasitism does not contribute to sex differences in growth rate in eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus).

ABSTRACT: Parasitism is nearly ubiquitous in animals and is frequently associated with fitness costs in host organisms, including reduced growth, foraging, and reproduction. In many species, males tend to be more heavily parasitized than females and thus may bear greater costs of parasitism. Sceloporus undulatus is a female-larger, sexually size dimorphic lizard species that is heavily parasitized by chigger mites (Eutrombicula alfreddugesi). In particular, the intensity of mite parasitism is higher in male than in female juveniles during the period of time when sex differences in growth rate lead to the development of sexual size dimorphism (SSD). Sex-biased differences in fitness costs of parasitism have been documented in other species. We investigated whether there are growth costs

SUBMITTER: Conrad H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10565727 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature