Parasite intensity drives fetal development and sex allocation in a wild ungulate.

ABSTRACT: An understanding of the mechanisms influencing prenatal characteristics is fundamental to comprehend the role of ecological and evolutionary processes behind survival and reproductive success in animals. Although the negative influence of parasites on host fitness is undisputable, we know very little about how parasitic infection in reproductive females might influence prenatal factors such as fetal development and sex allocation. Using an archival collection of Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli dalli), a capital breeder that depends on its body reserves to overcome the arctic winter, we investigated the direct and indirect impacts of the parasite community on fetal development and sex allocation. Using partial least squares modelling, we observed a negative effect of parasite community on fetal de

SUBMITTER: Aleuy OA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7518422 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature