Parasite infection and host personality: Glugea-infected three-spined sticklebacks are more social.

ABSTRACT:

Abstract

The existence of animal personality is now well-documented, although the causes and consequences of this phenomenon are still largely unclear. Parasite infection can have pervasive effects on hosts, including altering host behaviour, and may thus contribute to differences in host personality. We investigated the relationship between the three-spined stickleback and its common parasite Glugea anomala, with focus on differences in host personality. Naturally infected and uninfected individuals were assayed for the five personality traits activity, exploration, boldness, sociability, and aggression. If infected fish behaved differently from uninfected, to benefit this parasite with horizontal transmission, we predicted behaviour increasing interactions with other stick

SUBMITTER: Petkova I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6182751 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature