Biology
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Mixed dispersal strategies are a form of bet hedging in which a species or population utilizes different dispersal strategies dependent upon biotic or abiotic conditions. Here we provide an example of a mixed dispersal strategy in the Aedes albopictus / Ascogregarina taiwanensis host/parasite system, wherein upon host emergence, the gregarine parasite is either carried with an adult mosquito leaving the larval habitat, or released back into the larval habitat. We show that the parasite invests a larger proportion of its dispersing (oocyst) life stage into adult female mosquitoes as opposed to adult male mosquitoes at low parasite exposure levels. However, as the exposure level of parasite increases, so does the parasite investment in adult males, whereas there is no change in the proportion of oocysts in the adult female, regardless of dose. Thus, A. taiwanensis is utilizing several dispersal strategies, depending upon host sex and intraspecific density. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this parasite reduces body size, increases time to emergence in females, and leads to a reduction in estimates of per capita growth rate of the host.
Publication Title
PLoS ONE
Publication Date
9-2017
Volume
12
Issue
9
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0184573
Keywords
parasite, Aedes albopictus, Ascogregarina taiwanensis
Repository Citation
Soghigian, John and Livdahl, Todd, "Differential response to mosquito host sex and parasite dosage suggest mixed dispersal strategies in the parasite Ascogregarina taiwanensis" (2017). Biology. 402.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_biology/402
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright Conditions
Soghigian, J., & Livdahl, T. (2017). Differential response to mosquito host sex and parasite dosage suggest mixed dispersal strategies in the parasite Ascogregarina taiwanensis. PLoS One, 12(9), e0184573.