Time-lagged effect of predators on tadpole behaviour and parasite infection.

ABSTRACT: Prey should adjust their defences against natural enemies to match their current level of risk and balance other needs. This is particularly important when optimal defences represent trade-offs, as is the case with many predator-induced trait-mediated indirect effects (TMIEs) that are antagonistic to those promoting host resistance to parasites and pathogens. However, trade-offs may depend on whether different natural enemies are present simultaneously or represent temporally discrete threats. We found that larval amphibians (Anaxyrus americanus) previously exposed to predator cues did not engage in anti-parasite behaviours (activity increases) in response to a current risk of infection by a pathogenic trematode parasite compared to controls, resulting in higher infection intensities. This

SUBMITTER: Koprivnikar J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5627178 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature