Functional immunogenetic variation, rather than local adaptation, predicts ectoparasite infection intensity in a model fish species.

ABSTRACT: Natural host populations differ in their susceptibility to infection by parasites, and these intrapopulation differences are still an incompletely understood component of host-parasite dynamics. In this study, we used controlled infection experiments with wild-caught guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and their ectoparasite Gyrodactylus turnbulli to investigate the roles of local adaptation and host genetic composition (immunogenetic and neutral) in explaining differences in susceptibility to infection. We found differences between our four study host populations that were consistent between two parasite source populations, with no indication of local adaptation by either host or parasite at two tested spatial scales. Greater values of host population genetic variability metrics broadly aligned

SUBMITTER: Phillips KP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9292977 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature