Hermaphrodites and parasitism: size-specific female reproduction drives infection by an ephemeral parasitic castrator.

ABSTRACT: Sex can influence patterns of parasitism because males and females can differ in encounter with, and susceptibility to, parasites. We investigate an isopod parasite (Hemioniscus balani) that consumes ovarian fluid, blocking female function of its barnacle host, a simultaneous hermaphrodite. As a hermaphrodite, sex is fluid, and individuals may allocate energy differentially to male versus female reproduction. We predicted the relationship between barnacle size and female reproductive function influences the distribution of parasites within barnacle populations. We surveyed 12 populations spanning ~400 km of coastline of southern California and found intermediate-sized barnacles where most likely to be actively functioning as females. While it is unclear why larger individuals are less like

SUBMITTER: Fong CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6911060 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature