Parasite infestation influences life history but not boldness behavior in placental live-bearing fish.

ABSTRACT: Parasites can negatively affect the reproductive success of hosts. Placental species may be particularly susceptible, because parasite-induced stress during pregnancy could potentially influence embryo development. Here, we examine the consequences of a trematode infestation (black spot disease, BSD) for fetal development and adult behavior in 19 natural populations of the placental live-bearing fish species Poeciliopsis retropinna (Poeciliidae) in Costa Rica. First, we observed substantial variation in parasite infestation among populations which correlated with a number of local environmental conditions (elevation, river width, depth, and flow velocity). Furthermore, we observed substantial variation in parasite infestation among females within populations associated with maternal age an

SUBMITTER: Hagmayer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7683485 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature