Predictors of individual performance and evolutionary potential of life-history traits in a hematophagous ectoparasite.

ABSTRACT: Little is known about the intraspecific variation of parasite life-history traits and how this variation may affect parasite fitness and evolution. We investigated how life-history traits predict success of individual tree-hole ticks Ixodes arboricola and estimated their evolutionary potential, as well as genetic correlations within stages and phenotypic correlations within and across stages. Ticks were followed individually over two generations while allowed to feed on great tits Parus major. After accounting for host and tick maternal effects, we found that short feeding times and high engorgement weights strongly increased molting success. Molting time was also positively correlated with feeding success in adults. In larvae and nymphs, we found negative phenotypic correlations between e

SUBMITTER: Fracasso G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9314103 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature